An example of a picture generated by the Griffith Park Connectivity Study. Not only can we gather movement data, but also diet and behavioral data from these photos. Camera studies are a non-invasive method to the study of wildlife.Griffith Park Connectivity Study

Lead Biologists: Miguel Ordeñana, M.S. [ordenana (at) gmail.com], Erin Boydston, Ph.D. (USGS) [eboydston (at) usgs.gov], and Dan Cooper, M.S. (Cooper Ecological Monitoring) [dan (at) cooperecological.com]
Project Duration: 2011-Present
Funding Source:  Friends of Griffith Park, Hollywood United Neighborhood Council, Los Angeles Parks Foundation

Currently, we are using remote cameras to monitor wildlife movement between Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Mountains (photos shown here have resulted from our work).  The Cahuenga Pass/101 freeway is a major physical barrier for large mammals attempting to cross between Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Mountains. Similar to the I-405 National Park Service study, we will use remote cameras to monitor wildlife movement at bridge/underpass crossings (e.g., Mulholland Bridge) as well as wildlife activity in open space near crossing entrances along the Cahuenga Pass.  We plan to expand the A photo of a coyote with rabbit in his mouth. This photo was captured by a camera near the Hollywood Bowl.study to the east side of Griffith Park to monitor movement across the I-5/CA-134 towards the LA River and Verdugo mountains as more funding becomes available. Our remote camera data will both supplement information provided by bobcat GPS collar data or previous Griffith Park surveys and measure the permeability of various underpasses as a corridor for a variety of wide ranging mammal species. We will also coordinate our efforts with National Park Service and USGS camera studies ongoing farther west in the Santa Monica Mountains (e.g., at I-405 in the Sepulveda Pass). Further, camera trap photos of charismatic flagship species (e.g., bobcats) will be used as local and regional outreach material. The photos can be used to encourage local residents to contribute useful sightings information as well as connect the greater urban community with nature.  See more information on this fact sheet for this study.