Deploying Camera Traps

Camera trapping is a non-invasive way to study wildlife, using motion- and heat-sensitive cameras to automatically record animals in their natural environments. It enables the study of species that are often hard to observe directly, offering insights into their behaviour, distribution, and ecology with limited human disturbance.

Once you’ve selected the right camera trap, the next step is to decide where and how to use it effectively. Good placement and setup are key to collecting meaningful data, whether your goal is to study specific species, understand habitat use, or simply discover what’s visiting your garden or local green space.

From understanding animal behaviour and movement patterns to managing camera settings in the field, this webinar will guide you through the practical aspects of deploying camera traps for reliable, high-quality results.

We’ll cover the following topics:

• Choosing Suitable Locations – Understanding habitats, animal tracks, and natural features that influence wildlife movement to inform the best location to place cameras.
• Positioning and Mounting – How to set the camera’s height, angle, and distance for clear, well-framed captures.
• Camera Settings in the Field – Adjusting trigger sensitivity, delay intervals, image vs. video mode, and other parameters.
• Avoiding Common Pitfalls – Tips to mitigate for false triggers, theft risk, and weather issues.
• Adding Sites to MammalWeb – How to register and map your deployment locations to contribute valuable citizen science data.

Whether you’re setting up your first camera in a garden or planning a large-scale monitoring project, this session will help you deploy your equipment with confidence.

The 90-minute event will consist of a 1-hour presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor using questions provided by the live audience.

The presentations will be recorded and shared with those who booked alongside Q&A transcripts and relevant links following the event via a password-protected website.

Camera Trapping Specialist: Dr Sammy Mason

Dr Sammy Mason is a trustee of MammalWeb, a charity aiming to improve mammal monitoring through the use of camera traps and citizen science. Sammy completed her PhD on the MammalWeb project, particularly focusing on estimating mammal densities using camera traps and evaluating the benefits of engagement with schools.

Skills For Ecology Webinars

Our Skill For Ecology webinars focus on technical skills useful in ecology and conservation roles, such as use of technology, field surveying and practical conservation skills.

This webinar is part of a series focusing on camera trapping:

1. Introduction To Camera Trapping (Thu 22 Jan 2026 12:30 - 14:00)
2. Deploying Camera Traps (Thu 19 Feb 2026 12:30 - 14:00)
3. Classifying Camera Trap Footage (Thu 19 Mar 2026 12:30 - 14:00)

The camera trapping Skills For Ecology webinar series is delivered by the Biological Recording Company in partnership with MammalWeb.