UWEC CERCA 2026

In the context of human-induced rapid environmental change, monitoring of wildlife at different sites can offer useful information about how local fauna are responding to human presence. Here we build upon a previous study on the behavioral ecology of North American beavers (Castor canadensis), a native ecosystem engineer, through monitoring using camera traps. We surveyed various public lands and identified several active family groups of beavers in West-Central Wisconsin. Our camera trap data also captured the behavior of other local fauna based on our video analysis. Using Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, our trail cameras detect captured video footage across each 24-hour cycle including social behaviors of river otters and beavers as well as inquisitive bears and foraging behaviors by squirrels, deer, and native birds. We also detected flying squirrels gliding down from trees at night, and bobcats transversing local habitats. Future research will focus on the extent to which vertebrate assemblages vary across sites and with human activity. The plethora of wildlife we monitored on our camera traps illustrates how beavers play a key role in shaping diverse and healthy wetland ecosystems. Our work has important implications for the management of wetlands and conservation of beaver populations in the region.