Camera traps in the South of Limburg (NL)

In November-December 2006 the south-easternmost point of the Netherlands was searched for wildcats, using camera traps of the analogue type (non-digital). A camera trap is triggered by an IR-sensor, when an animal moves in front of it. To attract cats to the camera, a stick was placed in front of it, upon which some drops of valerian-oil were applied. However, more species are attracted by the oil, or are passing inadvertently. Here a selection of pictures, taken by the cameras.

House cats in a variety of colours came along often, attracted by the cat lure.

Because wildcats sometimes rest in badger setts during the day, cameras were also placed on and near these setts. This of course resulted in many pictures of badgers, which did not seem to be deterred by the camera flash. Apparently the cat lure was interesting for the badgers as well.

A badger from behind.

A fleeing beech marten.

This beech marten marks the stick with cat lure with the scent of its anal glands, thereby making a handstand. A pine marten most probably should have used the glands on its belly to rub the stick.

Foxes are everywhere and often appeared in front of the cameras. Foxes also sniffed the sticks with cat lure.

A fox flees for the sound or flash of the camera.

Rabbits are only inadvertently passing the camera and are not interested in the scent of the cat lure.

A strange rabbit.

Another strange forest animal.

The woods in South-Limburg abound with roe deer. Roe deer were the most photographed species, in 59 of the 90 camera locations. They also sniffed the lure sticks.

The slender body of the roe deer indicates its adaptation to living in dense woods. It can thus pass quickly and easily between narrow standing trees.

A small group of roe deer, probably a mother with two calves of the year.

In one of the larger woods a small population of wild boar is present. The wild boar also is a slender built animal. A sudden meeting with such a large boar is not an attractive idea….

A chance picture of a sow with three newly born piglets. The picture was made in the night of 28 November. A very early, of maybe a very late litter?

Two pictures put together, of a fox and a wildcat visiting the same camera trap in different nights. Although both species may vary considerably in body size, this picture gives a rough impression of relative body size of both species.

A similar merged picture from the French Argonne-region, where many wildcats live and where the camera traps were used for one week: a badger and a (big!) wildcat in front of the same camera.