AIM Camera Trap Study (2022)

Our study aims: 1) to inventory the mammal population on and around the SUNY Potsdam campus; and 2) to evaluate how urban-rural interface affects wildlife populations. To investigate these questions, in November 2021 we installed three motion–activated trail/game cameras, two in NatCo Park and one in Lehman Park. We checked the cameras four times over the semester and sorted the photos. Photos not containing any animals (human or wildlife) were deleted. So far, we have captured photographic evidence of a diverse range of mammals, including coyotes, deer, fox, rabbits, and raccoons. We are currently analyzing total species richness and diversity. Our study contributes to the larger regional Adirondack Inventory and Monitoring program based at SUNY ESF, which is collecting data on mammal populations throughout the Adirondack region.