Introduction To Camera Trapping

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.

In the UK, this approach is valuable for a wide range of people. Researchers use it to gather data on elusive or nocturnal species and study behaviour, conservationists apply it to monitor populations and inform protection efforts, and wildlife gardeners enjoy discovering the creatures visiting their green spaces. Capturing everything from hedgehogs to foxes, owls to stoats, camera traps offer huge opportunities for collecting data and engaging with the natural world to increase local biodiversity awareness.

In this webinar, we’ll cover the following topics:

• What is Camera Trapping? – Introducing the method and its applications in research, conservation, engagement and personal wildlife studies.

• How Camera Traps Work – Explaining motion and heat detection, trigger speed, and how images or videos are captured.

• Types of Camera Traps – Comparing common models, from entry-level to advanced, and their typical uses.

• Key Features to Consider – Image quality, battery life, memory capacity, infrared vs. white flash, weatherproofing, ease of use, and other essentials.

• Choosing the Right Camera for Your Needs – Matching camera trap features to goals, budget, and environment and where to source your camera.

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, a student, a conservation volunteer, or a professional ecologist, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to begin using trail cameras to improve your understanding of the wildlife present at a site.

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.

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.

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.