Could pine martens return to a rewilded Devon? Photo, Terry Whittaker/2020Vision
Citizen Science: Woodland Wildlife Survey
Camera traps (also known as trail cameras) let us see into the woodland world, without disturbing wildlife and so we can learn more about when and where pine martens and other key woodland species are active.
The Two Moors Pine Marten Project has recently reintroduced pine martens to both Dartmoor and Exmoor. Now we are monitoring their progress and seeing how they are moving across the South West.
This work relies on a citizen science approach, with exciting opportunities for people to support us and monitor our woodlands. There are two ways to get involved:
- Run a camera trap - Volunteers with access to wooded areas can put up their own camera, capture images and see what is in their local area.
- Help identify wildlife online - Even if you don’t have access to a woodland or a camera trap, you can still take part from anywhere. We use the online platform Mammal Web and volunteers can help identify animals captured in the images of our woodlands.
Run a camera trap
Have somewhere in mind to survey?
If you own or have access to woodland or scrub, check that it is within the project area and available for monitoring. Please make a note of the grid reference for the location where you will set up your camera. Then complete the online registration form below.
Identify your camera’s location
What you need
Where possible, participants wanting to survey their land will need a camera trap, SD card, batteries, suitable location to deploy cameras and access to a laptop, SD card reader and internet to see what wonderful wildlife you capture. If you need help with this, don’t worry, we will be in touch with you once you have registered and can discuss options further.
How to register and survey your land
- Look at the map and identify the square you wish to survey.
- Register using this digital form: Woodland Wildlife Survey Registration Form
- Once you have registered you will be contacted in the next few working days with confirmation and more information (this may take up to 7 working days).
- Once you have spoken to the team, then set up a camera & leave to capture images for four weeks at a time.
- After four weeks, upload your images collected to the citizen science platform MammalWeb.org. *This part is still in development but you can start your camera trap now and when your images are collected, please contact our team again.
- Review your images and see what creatures you have captured! This is optional, anyone can help analyse the data once it’s uploaded onto MammalWeb, but we do encourage you to have a go at analysing your own images.
Help identify wildlife online
Coming soon! All the images captured in the surveys will be uploaded to MammalWeb. This is a citizen science website where anyone can review images and identify the animals captured in them. Our project will be added soon and then you can help identify our wildlife online!
What to do if you spot a pine marten on a camera!
If you capture a pine marten on your camera during the survey, please submit the images via Mammal Web and a member of our team will be in touch. In some cases, we may follow up with a more targeted survey to learn more about the individual.
This can help us identify individuals using their unique bib patterns, detect the presence of kits, and monitor behaviour and interactions. It’s an excellent way to learn more about these legally protected animals without disturbing them. All pine marten records collected through this work contribute to the National Pine Marten Monitoring Programme.
Citizen science FAQ's
Who can get involved?
Anyone that has access to a patch of woodland or scrubby area or an area that backs onto these habitats. These areas must be away from people.
I don’t own any land can I still get involved?
Yes, if you have an area in mind to survey that does not belong to you, please get in touch with us first and we will confirm its suitability and look to seek landowner permission. Anyone can also get involved by helping to analyse the images once they are on Mammal Web
Troubleshooting and survey support
If you have any problems or queries please contact the pine marten team on pinemartens@devonwildlifetrust.org, who would be happy to help.
I’m worried about the security of my camera trap
If you are concerned about the security of your camera trap, we recommended using a cable lock to secure it.
Have you seen a pine marten?
We would love to hear of any pine marten sightings outside of these citizen science surveys. If you have a sighting to share, please contact our pine marten team and include as much detail as possible, such as the location and any photographs.
The project is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and with thanks to the National Lottery players.
The project is led by Devon Wildlife Trust and is a partnership between seven conservation organisations:
