Monitoring carnivores with cameras

Cougar photographed March 20, 2012, in the Redstreak area by KNP Remote Camera

Motion-activated cameras have been set up in Kootenay National Park as part of a carnivore monitoring project. Cameras are mounted on trees or encased in rock cairns to monitor wildlife use in both frontcountry and remote backcountry locations. Compared with traditional wildlife research techniques like radio collaring, the ‘camera trap’ is non-invasive and comparatively cheap.

Tracking carnivore populations over the long term may provide insight into why carnivores are present in some particular areas of the park and absent in others. This type of information can alert staff to potential ecological problems in the park and also help in managing visitor use by temporary closing trails to reduce disturbance of wildlife and lessen risk for visitors’ safety.