Developing a new method to detect small mustelids

Technological advances within the field of image capturing, processing, and data transmitting have opened novel avenues for tracking small mustelids. We are working on combining such technologies with the well-established concept of the tracking tunnel. Therefore, we have replaced the wooden tunnel with a PVC tube and the ink and tracking paper with a custom-built wildlife camera. With this combination, we hope to: 1) reduce maintenance; 2) remove dependency on expert knowledge; and 3) detect more than presence-only (time of visit, visiting patterns). An initial test series with captive stoats and least weasels provided the proof of concept. The tests have shown that the animals integrate the tunnels in their space-use (between 5 and 15 visits per day, mean visit duration 4 seconds, ranging from milliseconds up to 30 seconds). Overcoming the obvious captive bias, we are currently testing the tunnels in an agricultural area where we have simultaneously installed camera traps and tracking tunnels