We place special cameras with motion sensors around the city of Berkeley. When an animal walks by, that triggers the cameras to take photos or record video. These camera traps help us see how animals are interacting, what they’re doing, and where they are. The videos are fun to watch. One showed a raccoon trying to break into the camera’s box!
Other times, we set traps to humanely capture the animals. We collect samples of their blood, hair, poop, and whiskers, which tell us about the animals’ health. We also attach GPS collars, which let us track where the animals go. Coyotes are my favorite urban carnivores to study. They’re scrappy and clever, and their puppies are the cutest.