Forest of Dean camera trapping

16-03-2020

We are very excited to introduce a new project for you all. Sian, one of our MammalWeb PhD students, has been running a camera trap survey in the Forest of Dean and is now looking for help to classify the thousands of photos and videos collected. This project adds new data to MammalWeb from a part of the UK less well represented in the dataset so far.

This survey, over a period of 5 months, has involved rotating cameras across 75 locations in a systematic grid formation across the forest. The survey area spans three different counties: Gloucestershire and Herefordshire in England, and Monmouthshire in Wales. The aims of this project are to provide a systematic assessment of the wildlife living in the Forest of Dean and assist with monitoring the newly introduced pine martens, as well as some testing of different camera trap methodologies.

The forest is home to an interesting array of wildlife so should make for interesting spotting, with species such as wild boar, muntjac and fallow deer. There has even been a recent re-introduction of pine martens to the forest in a collaborative effort between the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Forestry Commission. While the pine martens are at a low density and are quite elusive, if you are very lucky you may come across one! There are two projects for the Forest of Dean survey, one containing photos and the other containing videos. They are equally in need of classifications.

Have a go at spotting for the Forest of Dean projects to have a chance of catching fallow deer like this one, wild boar, or even the elusive pine martens!