An evaluation of thermal infrared cameras for surveying hedgehogs in parkland habitats
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Clare Bowen
Abstract
We tested the effectiveness of thermal imaging cameras (TICs; model FLIR E60) for finding hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus (Linnaeus, 1758) while carrying out volunteer spotlighting surveys in parkland habitats in Central London. Systematic and standardised surveys were carried out in The Regent’s Park, London in spring and autumn from 2016 to 2018. Night-time surveys were carried out in seven designated zones within the park by groups of 4–6 volunteers, three (occasionally four) with bright torches and one with a TIC. Hedgehogs were detected on 316 occasions; 166 using TICs, 133 using torches, 11 by sound and six unassisted. Hedgehogs were detected at significantly greater distances with TICs [mean = 30 m, standard deviation (SD) = 22.8 m, n = 166] than with torches (mean = 12 m, SD = 11.2 m, n = 133). We conclude that TICs operated by volunteers were particularly effective at detecting hedgehogs in our parkland surveys and using TICs to supplement torches in spotlighting surveys should be tested in other places, especially where there is a considerable amount of open habitat.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to the “Hedgehog Hero” volunteers, the Meyer Family, the Zoological Society of London, Regent’s University, The Open Air Theatre, the Garden Wildlife Health Project team, The Central Wildlife Group, John Reynolds of FLIR Systems and the staff of the Royal Parks.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Ecology
- The effect of seasonal variation on the activity patterns of the American black bear: an ecological niche modeling approach
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- Modified live traps increase capture success of semifossorial voles in Alpine meadows
- Food of a Chinese jumping mouse, Eozapus setchuanus (Pousargues, 1896)
- Conservation
- First record of existence of Rhinolophus malayanus (Chiroptera, Rhinolophidae) in China
- Discovery of a new genus record for Paraguay, the Atlantic Forest endemic rodent Abrawayaomys (Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae)
- Ethology
- The “corpse bride” strikes again: first report of the Davian behaviour in the Eurasian badger
- Taxonomy
- A new species of crab-eating rat of the genus Ichthyomys, from Ecuador (Rodentia, Cricetidae, Sigmodontinae)
- Assessing the status of critically endangered Kondana soft-furred rat (Millardia kondana) using integrative taxonomy: combining evidence from morphological, molecular and environmental niche modeling
- A new record and phylogenetic position of Notiosorex crawfordi (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae) with distribution in Zacatecas, Mexico, using mitochondrial DNA
