Who goes there?
Mystery wildlife investigations & day-night imagery
Infrared image of nocturnal coyote
Ecological Wildlife Solutions™ offers wildlife investigative and imagery services for clients who want to know, “Who goes there?” We investigate wildlife concerns, big or small, from reports of troublesome squirrels in the backyard to reports of Bigfoot in the back-forty! We bring comprehensive knowledge of wildlife and investigative tools including research quality day-night remote cameras.
All animals, big and small, leave behind signs of their activities in the habitats they use, these signs are clues to their identification. Experienced investigators read animal signs in a landscape that tell the story of its occupants and visitors.
Animals as small as insects can be identified by signs they leave behind. A specific kind of caterpillar may use only one plant or only a few species of plants as forage and may leave a characteristic trail of foraging damage to the leaves they use for food. Large mammals leave behind more than tracks. Examples illustrate how obvious are signs of large mammals, if know what to look for: Deer damage saplings and small trees as they browse, and leave abundant droppings where they feed regularly.
A bear leaves disturbed ground where it has excavated tubers, characteristic twig and leaf damage on blackberry canes it stripped of berries by deftly using its mouth, and logs shredded by heavy claws searching for grubs and other larvae, rich sources of fats and protein. A “latrine” used over and over again by raccoons or Ruffed Grouse, the “J” shape droppings of Wild Turkey, and so on, are just a few of the identifiable evidence of specific species.
Trail cameras raise the level of investigation and gather interesting images of wildlife being wildlife. Cameras open a window on nocturnal and diurnal wildlife sharing human habitats and private landscapes:
Tiny eyes aglow as deer mice visit a snowy deer carcase
White-tailed deer in rainfall imaged with infrared camera.
A white-tailed deer buck in search of a doe-eyed mate. November-December is peak “rut” in the Midwest, a season for mating. Most states experience a sharp rise in deer-vehicle collisions during the rut.
Mallard at take-off.
The splash ripples seen at lower left indicate the duck flushed moments earlier, triggering the camera for fast wake up.
Do you prefer to buy a camera and collect your own imagery? See our “Tips” section below.
Tips for choosing a day/night infrared camera:
- Day/night imagery. Select a camera that works both day and night or miss out on surprising imagery data..
- Fast wake-up. Once activated by visual or thermal motion, many cameras wake-up slowly, the triggering animal already past the setup aiming point before the first image is collected. This is a frustrating problem common among inexpensive models.
- Wide-field sensor and lens. Many inexpensive cameras sense a very narrow arc of terrain. Animals that do not intersect the narrow arc within very limited camera range can pass the camera trap without triggering imagery.
- Careful camera aiming is essential. Many cameras fail to sense animals more than a few tens of feet away from the sensor. Cameras must be placed off to the sides of active game trails, scanning along the trail, much of the trail well within camera range. The vertical angle must be adjusted carefully to place sensor bands in the motion range of target animals. Your camera manual should explain how.
- Security. Some camera models offer coded programming and mounting conduits accepting cable-locks. Both of these features are essential if you want to use expensive cameras out in the wilds.
- Beware of bargain basement cameras. Retail camera prices range from around $100.00 to $700.00. As my grandmother would often say, “You get what you pay for.”
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