Camera traps and photographic monitoring of wildlife are important conservation tools whose welfare implications are minimized by proper setup and bait use protocols.
Camera trap welfare impacts are generally low compared to other research methods, but are not negligible when traps are poorly designed or placed. Physical trap components that injure animals, bait that causes conditioning, and flash photography in light-sensitive nocturnal species all create welfare costs. Passive infrared trigger systems that record without flash represent the most welfare-positive approach for most species. Bait selection that does not create dependency or behavioral change minimizes behavioral welfare impact. Conservation research welfare obligations extend to camera trapping as to other monitoring methods.