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Open space program uses cameras to track wildlife |
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Tuesday, November 08, 2011 08:55 |
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Photo by Jefferson County Open Space
By DANIEL SMITH, THE DENVER POST
The nighttime infrared camera image captured predators at an elk carcass; a mountain lion has come to feed, but seems reticent at the presence of another nocturnal predator approaching from the other side of the carcass — a skunk.
This surprising image and others are part of a presentation put together by Bryan Posthumus, Natural Resources Team Lead for Jeffco Open Space, as part of a long-running study of local wildlife behavior patterns.
The program actually started in 1999 using older technology — print file and slide cameras rather than digital cameras, he said. One of the initial missions was to document movement of bears along riparian areas, creek corridors and drainages with fruit-producing shrubs bears use to bulk up on before hibernation.
Posthumus estimates about seven or eight of the devices are in use now and he’d like to see a few more purchased for the program this winter.
From a scientific perspective, the cameras are not used to determine animal populations, but have been used in joint efforts, such as a project by the Colorado Division of Wildlife about Front Range mountain lion populations.
Animal monitoring has developed data on when species are active using a series of photos, for instance, looking at species movement times or what wildlife are present at particular properties.
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