My Camera Trap Kit

For those of you who have read my blog before, you will already know that I LOVE camera trapping aka using a trail cam or game cam. In the scientific world though, they are referred to as camera traps, as they "trap" the image of a passing animal. I am not a researcher, or scientist, but I am a student studying both of those things. Hopefully, one day "when I grow up" I will be considered a scientist, and have contributed something to the pool of "what we know".

In the mean time, while I blissfully spend my remaining semesters at FLCC, I'm afforded the opportunities to play with camera traps. If you'd like to read more about my experiences, look to the left under the column LABELS and look for "camera trap", "trail cam", and "scent lure".

The purpose of this posting came about from personal experience. I go out and check my cameras about every week. And I always have this bundle of stuff I'm schlepping around with me, dropping in the woods, stuffing my pockets with, etc. So, I decided to make a kit! Everything I need in one place, contained, when I need it. The following is what I've come up with as "necessary" to have when checking and setting cameras. If you have a suggestion, PLEASE leave a message!

The List:

1. Rubber gloves (to prevent scent contamination)
2. Alcohol swabs, hand sanitizer (again, to prevent contamination)
3. Cotton swabs (to clean out the camera lens if it gets dusty)
4. Scent clips/pads (something new I'm trying out to help the scent lures I use, "stick")
5. Plastic bags (just in case....)
6. Field image viewer
7. Extra batteries (D for the cameras, AAA for the viewer)
8. Pocket knife (to trim pesky weeds/twigs out of the field of view of the cameras)
9. Digital camera/tripod/USB cord (I like to document what I'm doing for the purpose of this blog as well as for school projects)
10. Work gloves (just in case...)
11. Scent lures (to ATTRACT the wildlife!)
12. Honey/petroleum (to help the scent "stick")
13. Flagging (to help you remember where your cameras are!
14. Small plastic cups (to mix your scent in)

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#11 (They HAVE to be stored each in their own bag, then in a plastic container, THEN in a another bag. And I can still smell them. Very stinky!)

#12 (I don't have any petroleum jelly at the moment...)

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Oh my gosh, and how could I forget the most important part?! THE CAMERAS:

From left to right:

Moultrie D-50, Cuddeback Attack IR, Cuddeback Capture flash

Check back soon, thank you for reading! My next post will be about my experience at the Honeoye Fur Auction working with DEC Region 8 Wildlife Biologist, Scott Smith!!!