Camera traps are a cornerstone of modern wildlife monitoring, enabling population assessment with minimal disturbance. But their design, placement, and use can still cause welfare harms that researchers must carefully consider.
Camera traps represent a relatively low-welfare-impact research method when used correctly — a major improvement over capture-based approaches. However, welfare considerations remain relevant. White flash cameras cause temporary photostasis and startle responses in nocturnal animals, particularly at close range; switching to infrared triggers is a straightforward welfare improvement. Placement at critical resources (water holes, dens) during stress periods creates repeated disturbance at locations animals cannot avoid. Bait stations interfere with natural foraging patterns and can create unnatural competition. Best-practice wildlife photography ethics require: infrared flash, careful placement away from sensitive sites, minimal scent deposition during installation, and regular camera checks that are brief and scent-minimised. Research ethics committees should review camera trap protocols for wild animals as standard.