Animals' movement depends on a variety of factors including rainfall, temperature fluctuations and behavior patterns. This makes them difficult to study. Various live traps are used to get an accurate species count, including five-gallon buckets buried in the ground flush with the soil surface. Aluminum sheets connecting the buckets guide the animals into the traps. The animals are shaded by a cover supported by twigs or rocks over the trap.
Researchers also capture the creatures by hand and use glue board traps.
All animals are identified, recorded and released, Zwank said. Currently, researchers are testing the effectiveness of various traps on different habitats.