CAMERA TRAPPING EXPERIENCE IN WILDLIFE MONITORING BY EXAMPLE OF BADGER (MELES MELES) SETTLEMENT

UDC 63+599.742.4

Smolyarko Evgeniy Olegovich – external doctorate student, the Department of General Geography and Hydrometeorology. Belarusian State University (4 Nezavisimosti Аve., 220030, Minsk, Republic of Belarus). E-mail: smolyarko@belstu.by

Ushkevich Nikolay Tarasovich − PhD (Economics), Assistant Professor, Dean of the Forestry Faculty. Belarusian State Technological University (13a Sverdlova str., 220006, Minsk, Republic of Belarus). E-mail: ushkevich@belstu.by

DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.52065/2519-402Х-2025-288-6.

Key words: badger, abundance estimation, wild animals monitoring, camera trap, daily activity, anthropogenic factor.

For citation: Smolyarko E. O., Yushkevich N. T. Camera trapping experience in wildlife monitoring by example of badger (Meles meles) settlement. Proceedings of BSTU, issue 1, Forestry. Nature Management. Processing of Renewable Resources, 2025, no. 1 (288), pp. 59–68 (In Russian). DOI: 10.52065/2519-402Х-2025-288-6.

Abstract

Conservation of biodiversity requires a permanent monitoring of ecosystems as a source of the most relevant information on the actual state of local flora and fauna. Infocommunication methods are an effective, informative and contemporary trend of studying wild animals in addition to traditional methods provided by actual technical and regulatory legal acts in the Republic of Belarus. On the basement of long-term monitoring experience of badger settlement the article provides brief review of the functionality and usage of camera traps to find wild animal habitats, to evaluate the population abundance and to study animal’s behavioral ecology. Some challenges of using this method and possible solutions are considered. The practical recommendations proposed in the article are applicable in forestry, hunting grounds, scientific organizations of the Republic of Belarus, as well as for citizen science representatives. The scientific application of the results of this study is the development of theoretical and methodological foundations for the use of camera traps in wildlife monitoring.

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