A mountain lion (Puma concolor) lies before a wildlife camera at Pepperwood.
Non-invasive Biodiversity Monitoring
Wildlife camera monitoring is a non-invasive way of gathering data about wildlife populations, their behaviors, and how they utilize habitat. Researchers study species population size and distribution. Long-term biodiversity monitoring can also help us glean information about how species interact with their environment. Overall, data from these cameras informs our regional wildlife conservation efforts.
A Photographic Study of Biodiversity
Pepperwood’s Mayacamas Mountains-based wildlife camera network has operated since 2012 and provides more than 750,000 photographs annually. The network consists of a 40-camera array spanning a 6,000+ acre area including Pepperwood and Audubon Canyon Ranch’s neighboring Modini Preserve. This remote camera grid was one of the first established in our region.
Deepening Our Understanding of Wildlife Populations
Camera grids serve as a foundation for other studies and monitoring strategies. For instance, at Pepperwood, we’ve been tracking black bears via our wildlife cameras as their populations have gradually increased in our area. As detections increased year by year, we understood the preserve to be a highly suitable habitat for these populations. Subsequently, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife undertook a bear collaring project at the preserve to deepen our understanding of black bear populations in this region.
The data collected from this project helps us to estimate survival rates of male and female bears and to identify causes of mortality while estimating their home ranges in the North Bay. In addition, we can identify habitat use and common road crossings. The project helps us identify typical den sites and estimate cub survival rates. Data collected from the collars will contribute to our understanding of California’s black bear population and drive future black bear conservation planning and efforts statewide.
This work supports wildlife and biodiversity in our region.
Support Large Landscape Conservation
Our Wildlife Neighbors Gallery from 2024
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