DOI: 10.5061/dryad.b2rbnzsp4
title: SiMPL Wildlife Magnets: A camera trap tool for detecting all creatures great and small

description: Small mammals compose a substantial portion of the seed predators and
 dispersers, as well as the prey, in many ecosystems. Nevertheless,
 information on distribution and habitat use is limited, partly because
 inexpensive, minimally -invasive surveying of small mammals has remained
 challenging. We created the SiMPL wildlife magnet – a baited camera trap
 design that allows passive monitoring of wildlife, especially small- to
 medium-sized mammals. The SiMPL magnet is inexpensive and easy to
 construct. To evaluate its effectiveness, we conducted a case study using
 10 sites operating for two years along an elevation gradient in the White
 Mountains of the northeastern U.S. We found that the SiMPL wildlife magnet
 can be used to detect rodents, mesocarnivores, and, to a lesser extent,
 ungulates. We examined how the detection probability of mammal species
 changed with the inclusion of a SiMPL wildlife magnet using data from pre-
 and post-establishment. We found a significant increase in community-level
 detection probability with the use of SiMPL magnets and for some species,
 including red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), American marten (Martes
 americana), and fisher (Pekania pennanti). Moreover, we were able to
 capture more species with SiMPL magnets than without, including flying
 squirrels (Glaucomys spp.), various Cricetidae spp., black bears (Ursus
 americanus), moose (Alces alces), owls and other birds. The SiMPL wildlife
 magnet is an effective, low-cost method for surveying wildlife
 communities, especially rodents and mesocarnivores. It addresses the
 limited range view presented by other techniques for capturing small
 mammals on camera traps and enables efficient collection of phenology
 data, including vegetation and snowpack. This tool has several
 applications, including monitoring species’ responses to silvicultural
 practices and global change.
description: This data was collected through camera traps and analyzed through
 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Photo Warehouse Software.
description: # SiMPL Wildlife Magnets: A camera trap tool for detecting all creatures
 great and small Our dataset allows the user to replicate the results of
 the study (see description below). We politely request to be contacted by
 parties interested in data reuse to discuss collaboration. ## Description
 of the data and file structure The data contains a CSV file named
 "simpl_data.csv". The data contains tagged camera trap data from
 June 2016- June 2018. The structure of the data is as follows, where each
 row is a tag (multiple tags can be applied to one photo): * pkAnnotation =
 Unique tag ID for database identification * fkPhotoID = Unique photo ID
 assigned by remote camera * fkTaxonID = species identification tag * date
 = date of photo (formatted mm/dd/yyyy) * year = year of photo * month =
 month of photo * day = day of photo * camera = camera ID * daymonth = day
 and month of photo (dd/mm) * yrweek = year and week of the photo (yyyy/wk)
 * week = week of photo (wk) * SiMPL = presence of SiMPL wildlife magnet in
 photo The exact locations of the camera sites were not included due to
 ongoing monitoring of state and/or federally endangered species. The
 associated R code (simpl_wildlife_magnet_rscript.Rmd) can be used to
 perform the analyses of this study. ## Sharing/Access information Data and
 R code used in this study are available in this Dryad submission.