Fieldwork in Montana: UM students deploy camera traps to study wildlife behavior
On a sunlit hillside in northwest Montana, a small team of University of Montana students gathers around a tree, threading a sturdy strap and adjusting the angle of a motion-activated camera. The scene could be mistaken for a routine nature hike, but for these students it is the opening chapter of a hands-on study in animal behavior. Camera traps—compact, weatherproof cameras that capture images or videos when triggered by movement—are helping the group observe wildlife without intruding on their daily lives.
What camera traps reveal about wildlife
The project centers on understanding how animals move, forage, and interact with their environment. By placing cameras at strategic locations—along game trails, near water sources, or on ridgelines—the students can document activity patterns across seasons. Unlike traditional field observations that require long hours in potentially disruptive proximity to animals, camera traps offer a noninvasive window into nocturnal and elusive species. The data collected can reveal peak activity times, preferred routes, and responses to changes in habitat or climate.
Balancing curiosity with scientific rigor
For the UM students, the work blends curiosity with methodology. Each camera placement is guided by a research question: How do deer navigate rough terrain after a winter thaw? Are small mammals more active near the creek at dawn and dusk? The fieldwork is not simply about snapping photos; it requires careful planning, calibration, and a plan for data management. Students log GPS coordinates, note environmental conditions, and set cameras to maximize legibility of the resulting footage. Post-fieldwork, they categorize images by species, behavior, and context to build a dataset that can be analyzed for patterns and trends.
Training the eye for animal behavior
Camera traps are just one tool in the broader study of behavior. The students complement the photographic data with observational notes, as well as literature on species-specific behaviors. The hillside landscape—pocketed with pines, sagebrush, and rocky outcrops—offers a varied backdrop for a range of species, from foxes and coyotes to voles and birds. Over weeks and months, the same set of cameras can capture shifts in activity related to weather, food availability, and mating seasons. This longitudinal approach is essential for understanding how animals adapt to a changing environment, particularly in a region where human activity and natural cycles intertwine.
Hands-on learning and community impact
Beyond the science, the project serves as a robust training ground for students building field skills—from equipment handling to data stewardship and teamwork. Students learn to troubleshoot in the field, swap tips about camera placement, and share responsibilities for monitoring and data entry. The knowledge they gain extends beyond campus: local land managers, conservation groups, and neighboring communities benefit from up-to-date insights into wildlife presence and movement. By translating raw footage into actionable information, these UM students contribute to a growing body of work that informs habitat protection, wildlife corridors, and sustainable land use.
Looking ahead: expanding the camera trap network
As the season progresses, the team plans to expand the camera network to capture a broader snapshot of the ecosystem. The data they gather may inform questions about how mountain ecosystems respond to climate variability, including shifts in snowpack, vegetation, and prey availability. The final analyses will likely combine camera trap data with other field measurements, such as vegetation surveys or small mammal trapping, to build a richer picture of the forest and hillside dynamics. For now, the students remain focused on the process: precise placement, mindful observation, and careful documentation of what the cameras reveal about animal life in Montana.
Why this work matters
Studying animal behavior through camera traps yields practical benefits for conservation and land management. When researchers understand how wildlife uses space and resources, they can design corridors that reduce human-wildlife conflicts and preserve critical habitats. In Montana’s varied landscapes, camera traps help illuminate the daily rhythms of species that might otherwise go unseen, offering a glimpse into the many ways life persists and adapts in a changing world.
