What Are Ways of Monitoring Animal Behavior?

Anecdotal Monitoring

• Probably the most unreliable of monitoring because it can be so subjective, anecdotal monitoring relies on the observations of others and their testimony to draw conclusions about animal behavior. When this method is combined with a more scientific approach, it can be useful to determine preliminary ranges and conditions for targeted wildlife. However, if used solely as a unique means of monitoring with nothing else, its results will be discounted.

In-Person Monitoring

• One the hardest types of monitoring to perform objectively, in-person monitoring tends to be high on expectations and poor on results. Much of the disappointment has to do with television making it seem possible to capture wildlife on camera or film by just entering their domain. In reality, wildlife tend to steer away from humans and stay hidden. In-person monitoring typically then requires frequent visiting, staying stationary, and waiting for wildlife to appear in its normal patterns and habits. Even this is questionable in terms of success since animals can smell humans easily from a distance.

Remote Camera Monitoring

• The most successful live recording/monitoring occurs with remote cameras. This type of monitoring places a camera in a well-traveled or used location of the wildlife. Eventually, true to pattern, the animals will be captured in the normal course of their business. Image capture can be enhanced by placement of food bait within range of the camera, but this approach fouls up monitoring of wildlife in normal behavior since an artificial food source is being added to the mix.

Statistical Monitoring

• Based in science, statistical monitoring focuses on measurements and metrics of wildlife to draw patterns and conclusions from repeat data. Typical metrics used in monitoring will include wildlife populations, demographics, weather patterns, and habitat conditions. Measurements are taken repeatedly over a time period and compared. Conclusions are then drawn about wildlife behavior based on patterns in the data versus known variables in the test environment.