File:Carnivore camera Wildlife photos from the Wild Rogue Wilderness (19537169738).jpg

The annual spring wildlife survey in the Wild Rogue Wilderness captured dozens of high-resolution images of carnivores this year – and those are just the best shots.

Better battery life and digital storage space in cameras allowed BLM staff to leave the motion-triggered equipment out for a longer duration along the Wild and Scenic Rogue River.

In this case, eight cameras were positioned at various locations and left to run for almost two months – from April to June, roughly. Raw chicken meat was used to entice the carnivores.

The main goal of the surveys is to track the range of the fisher, a member of the weasel family that may be listed under the Endangered Species Act.

According to Jeff Stephens, who coordinates the fisher surveys for the BLM Medford District, there are only two native fisher populations left on the West Coast.

“The goal is to expand the range of the fisher,” said Stephens. “We need to manage for them because they are a sensitive species.”

Although the spring survey did not capture images of any fishers, the data collected—including DNA samples collected from a hair-snare device—is still shared with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Many other animals were caught on camera: black bear; grey fox; coyote; mountain lion; ringtail cat; opossum; both striped and spotted skunks; deer; woodrats; grey squirrels; and turkey vultures.