Camera traps are powerful conservation tools but their deployment raises welfare and ethical considerations that researchers and citizen scientists should understand and address.
Camera traps offer significant benefits for wildlife research and conservation with relatively low welfare impacts compared to traditional capture and marking methods. However, the growing popularity of camera trapping — including among citizen scientists — means that welfare considerations are not always adequately addressed. Flash-equipped cameras can disturb nocturnal animals at critical moments, bait stations can create dependency and attract predators, and placement near reproductive sites can cause disturbance that leads to nest or den abandonment. Following best practice guidelines including infra-red illumination, careful siting away from sensitive areas, and not using attractants minimises welfare impacts while maintaining research value.