Thinking outside the park: camera trapping mammals in urban areas
For immediate release ‐ January 29, 2021
Contact: Jon Pishney, 919.707.8083. Images available upon request
A white-tailed deer watches as a red fox passes by in the National Arboretum.
Museum Research Curator for Mammals, Dr. Michael Cove, and colleagues have published the first camera trap survey conducted throughout the Washington, DC area. Typically, camera traps are deployed in green spaces (forest preserves, greenways, golf courses), but this study deployed camera traps in these places and in spaces in between (alleys, along sidewalks, behind buildings, etc.).
The research team found that while many animals use the green spaces, they are not restricted to these areas, and some commonly use the “urban matrix” to travel between parks.
Note: click images to enlarge.