A Game Camera Study of Vulpes vulpes and the Scents that May Be Attractive to Them the Other Predators

Abstract

Predators utilize their sense of smell in many ways, from marking territory to tracking and locating prey. As cities and towns expand further, many predators are now exposed to a variety of new scents and smells. This study examined the attractiveness of different scents to local animal in the South-East Texas Piney Woods region. The scents used in this study were both naturally found and synthetic perfumes, to determine whether man-made scents were more attractive to predators than naturally occurring scents. Patches of dirt 1 m x 1 m were raked clear of grass and leaves, and a wooden stake was placed in the center, with a game camera set up to observe the station. Scent bait was made by soaking thick cotton rags in the scents for 24 hours and then nailing the rag to the stake at the bait station. Each bait was left out for 10 days to ensure time for discovery before being removed. The images taken by the cameras were then sorted through and each type of animal was recorded, as well as how frequently the bait was visited.