How to observe rare and wild animals best? By watching them and then shooting them. No worries! Nothing happens to the animals. Only photograps are shot.
The habitat of the Minett UNESCO Biosphere is a habitat that allows even wild animals that rarely occur in our regions to exist. To obtain an accurate picture of the animals that inhabit the forests of the Minett UNESCO Biosphere, researchers at LIST, the Luxembourg Institute for Science and Technology, use the camera trap technique.
The use of a camera trap does not disturb the wild animal in its natural habitat, but it does make it possible to determine which and how many animals are present in the observed area.
Within the framework of the “Habitats”-Directive, LIST is currently observing three different animal species in the Minett region. The photo traps set up in our forests are looking for wildcats, martens and skunks.
To attract these animals to the vicinity of the camera traps, or to make them scratch along a piece of wood, the LIST researchers use lures. These plant scents, which are highly odorous but non-toxic, attract the animals.
If the hairs of a feral cat, marten or skunk can be trapped by passing a specially placed piece of wood, these hairs can be used to determine the genetic diversity of the population of these rare animals in Minett.
The camera traps and wooden posts used for tracing are regularly checked by LIST scientists and on the Biodiversity Days from 3 to 6 June, LIST will also be on site in Ellergronn. On the Family Day, on Sunday 6 of June, they will present a workshop where you can learn more about the principle and the functioning of the photo traps in the Minett UNESCO Biosphere.
Due to the current measures against Covid, the workshops are limited to 10 people per workshop. Advance booking is also required. The LIST workshop on camera traps is offered at 10:00, 11:30, 14:00 and 15:30 and is one hour long.
Register by email: ellergronn@anf.etat.lu