On this page:
A Guide to the Camera Trap Set Up and Check
Field Documents and Set up Guide
Camera Deployment and Check Sheets
Camera Trap Check 101: A Visit to Golden Ears
Study Design
ABMI RCSC x WildCAM: Remote Camera Survey Guidelines and Metadata Standards
Camera Trap Distance Sampling: A Crash Course
Data Analysis and Public-Use GitHub Respositories
An Introduction to Camera Trap Data Management and Analysis in R
Wildlife Coexistence Lab Github Repository
Density Handbook
A Guide to the Camera Trap Set Up and Check
Deployment Protocol and Guide
We have developed a guide highlighting some of the major considerations camera trap users should have in mind when deciding where and how to set up their camera traps. It is meant as a general guide for those who may have limited experience with formal sampling methods but are interested in having their camera trap photos used in research to support wildlife science and management.
WildCAM guide to camera trap set up (updated February 2021)
We also have streamlined the guide to camera trap set up into a short document, perfect for printing and tucking into your field notebook, for training field technicians and for quick reference when reminding oneself of protocol. There is a short reminder list as well as a synopsis of all features.
WildCAM condensed deployment protocol (streamlined March 2022)
Camera Deployment and Check Sheets
To facilitate standardization of data collection in camera trap set up, we have also created WildCAM data collection sheets that can be used in the field during camera deployment and during camera visits or retrieval. Our datasheets are consistent with metadata standards developed by Wildlife Insights and the RISC Wildlife Camera Metadata standards. We encourage you to use them and hope they are useful for users when deploying, checking, and retrieving cameras in the field.
Compared to previously available versions of the WildCAM Deployment Sheet, the updated sheet (2025) is reordered to be more chronological and to generally follow a typical deployment protocol. New questions covering commonly missed steps (such as placing desiccant in the camera) have been added.
Furthermore, a final “confirmation” check section has been added at the very bottom. This is a section that is to be completed at the very end of the deployment, and includes questions that have been asked previously in the sheet. This is because field technicians (particularly those with experience) often check off sections of the deployment sheet before completing the step in anticipation, but for a variety of reasons may forget to do the step. This final section serves as a second safety net to ensure that critical actions (such as actually turning the camera on and locking it) relating to the deployment are completed.
In addition to the standard PDF, an editable Google Docs version of this sheet is also being made available. WildCAM users are encouraged to make copies and modify these sheets as per their project-specific requirements. For example, this can look like removing the camera make/model section if a project has a single brand of camera being used with no exceptions.
Please find the PDF and Editable versions below.
PDF: WildCAM Camera Deployment Sheet (updated May 2025)
Editable Google Doc: WildCAM Camera Deployment Sheet (updated May 2025)
Similarly, we have also recently updated our check sheets, allowing for two checks per sheet (instead of the previous layout with one check per sheet). The "confirmation check" section from the deployment sheet is also here (though slightly modified).
Please find the PDF and Editable versions below.
PDF: WildCAM Camera Check Sheet (updated May 2025)
Editable Google Doc: WildCAM Camera Check Sheet (updated May 2025)
Camera Trap Check 101: A Visit to Golden Ears
Developed by Jamie Clarke and Isla Frances, this video is a quick introduction to doing a camera check in a busy location like Golden Ears Provincial Park.
Study Design
ABMI RCSC x WildCAM: Remote Camera Survey Guidelines and Metadata Standards
The Alberta Remote Camera Steering Committee (RCSC) has developed Remote Camera Survey Guidelines v1 (RCSC et al., 2023) and Remote Camera Metadata Standards: Standards for Alberta v2 (RCSC, 2023). These documents, including supporting materials, can be downloaded here.
- The purpose of the Remote Camera Survey Guidelines (RCSC et al., 2023) is to provide recommendations on study design and implementation (including equipment and deployment recommendations) for novice to advanced users of remote cameras in western Canada in a format aligned with standardized methods for metadata reporting. The intended audience for this document includes consultants, researchers, and wildlife biologists working for government, non-government agencies and industry.
- The purpose of the Alberta Remote Camera Metadata Standards (RCSC, 2023) is to provide guidance on the types of data that should be collected and documented when using remote cameras to detect wildlife, alongside the Wildlife Camera Metadata Protocol: Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 44 (RISC, 2019).
In addition, here is a recording of a webinar on "Remote Camera Survey Guidelines & Metadata Standards" (PDF of presentation slides here) presented by WildCAM member Cassie Stevenson on 25 April 2023. Please also refer to our Resource Library page for recommended resources.
Camera Trap Distance Sampling: A Crash Course
Developed by WildCo Master’s student Tristen Brush, this video serves as a gentle introduction to distance sampling, including an introduction to distance sampling detection curves, and things to look out for when beginning to plan a distance sampling experiment.
A transcript for the video can be found here.
Data Analysis and Public-Use Repositories
An Introduction to Camera Trap Data Management and Analysis in R
WildCo postdoc Dr. Chris Beirne has created a great resource about how to create reproducible research with camera trap data. This document highlights some of the different analyses you can run with camera trap data and importantly, also links to some useful data exploration scripts in R.
Chris also led a webinar for the Columbia Mountain Institute walking through the linked page above and using R in camera trap analysis. You can view this webinar below!
Wildlife Coexistence Lab Github Repository
The WildCo Lab also has a GitHub page with additional R scripts you can download and use to explore your own data, including for single and multi-site studies and using R to extract GIS data for your camera trap project. You can access the WildCo Github here.
Density Handbook
Developed by Jamie Clarke, the WildCAM Density Handbook (formally titled "Using Camera Traps to Estimate Medium and Large Mammal Density: Comparison of Methods and Recommendations for Wildlife Managers") is a great place to begin for those interested in the various density models relating to camera trap data. This includes walking through the models, their assumptions, advantages/limitations, and ties these to relevant, published examples with real-world data.
The WildCAM Density Handbook can be accessed here.
Introduction to Density Measurement Webinar
Jamie walks through her density handbook in a webinar linked below by the BC Parks Foundation. Slides for the webinar can be found here.