Trail cameras, also known as game cameras, are used by hunters, wildlife researchers, conservationists, and nature enthusiasts as a window into the unseen world of wildlife. These cameras, which can be left outdoors unmanned, allow us to observe animal activity and behaviors that would otherwise go unseen. In some cases, this is because animals are active at night when we’re fast asleep or we can’t view them well in the dark. In other cases, it’s simply because our physical presence would cause wildlife to flee, or at a minimum, alter their behavior. Either way, trail cameras can help.
If placed in a favorable location, such as along game trails, near feeding or watering areas, or in travel corridors where animals are most active, a trail camera is likely to pick up many observations per day. It’s worth noting, however, that photos and videos captured by most trail cameras are not likely to win any photo quality contests. More often than not, the image is of a fuzzy blur shooting past the camera, or a chunky backside as a porcupine or raccoon waddles away from the camera. Occasionally, you get a close-up picture of an ear or a shot full of too-close whiskers, as a curious animal investigates the camera. But even lacking National Geographic quality shots, trail cameras can provide immensely useful information about the wildlife around you.
In addition to my “regulars”, such as white-tailed deer, raccoons, and red and gray squirrels, on a recent camera check I discovered that a saw-whet owl had been visiting. The Hopkins Memorial Forest has a saw-whet owl banding program, so it’s not a surprise that saw-whet owls can be found here. However, the saw-whet owl video was captured on a night we were not out banding owls. That means we did not have the saw-whet owl call playing on repeat, which we use as a “lure” on banding nights. It was interesting to see that even without the “lure”, saw-whet owls are moving around within HMF, and not just migrating overhead.
Click here to see a compiled video of some of the more interesting April trail camera sightings, including the saw-whet owl.
Observations of frequently observed wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, can also be informative. I may see deer in the fields around the Rosenburg Center or along the trails once a week or so, but they trigger my trail cameras almost daily. And on some evenings, they do so many times per night. These more frequent observations can provide information not only on a species’ presence, but also provide insights into what plants they’re eating, how many individuals and of what age are moving around together, etc. For example, last summer my trail camera captured a parade of white-tailed deer consisting of two adult females and 3 spotted fawns.
And then sometimes, you capture the completely unexpected. This spring was also the first time I’ve ever captured another human on my trail camera (besides myself coming and going to the camera). My camera is located off trail, away from areas actively used by people. However, during a warm rainy evening in March, what appeared to be three college students with flashlights stumbled upon my camera. Given this trio’s concurrence with the “Big Night” for migrating amphibians, I suspect they were trying to find a vernal pool to witness amphibians like wood frogs and spotted salamanders that gather in these ephemeral water bodies for mass breeding and egg-laying. Unfortunately, they were about a ¼ mile from their target. (They were also breaking the “stay on the trails” rule. All are welcome to come explore HMF, day or night, but please remain on the designated trails!)
Going through the image log of a trail camera almost always yields a surprise or two. What types of wildlife do you think are passing right by your front door while you sleep?
Written by Elise Leduc-Fleming, Hopkins Memorial Forest Manager
May 9, 2025