Garden mammal camera trap 

Participant Information Sheet

Before you take part, look through the project details before giving us your consent

Purpose of the study

We will explore which urban mammals occupy gardens, particularly mice, rats and hedgehogs, while seeing which garden features attract species, such as bird feeders. This will uncover risks to hedgehogs because hedgehogs living in the same gardens as rats and mice are more likely to come across rodenticides that are used to treat infestations. All you would have to do is record an area of your garden using sardines as bait to attract nearby wildlife.

What will you do?

Taking part is straightforward and should not take more than a few minutes each day during the trial 

Participate in Summer 2026 and Winter 2026/2027.

• You will be given sardine cans as well as a motion-activated trail camera (if required). 

• Each 7-day trial will involve making a small hole in a tin of sardines and attaching it to a sturdy structure (fence, pole, etc.). This should be no higher than 10 cm from the ground to allow hedgehogs to investigate the sardines. Ensure the tin is fastened securely, or animals will try to take the sardines.

• Participants will then place their camera 2 meters away from the sardines and film this area for the next 7 days. Check the SD card and change it if it gets full. Also, check in case an animal has taken the sardines. Replace the sardines if this occurs.

• Repeat this process for each 7-day trial. After each trial, upload the footage separately using the upload form. 

• Alongside this, fill out our form once regarding your garden features.

Your rights

• Right to withdraw from participating at any time if you change your mind.

• Your private information will be kept confidential and only accessed by the research team.

• Your name and contact details will not appear in any reports or publications.

• Feel free to ask us any questions at any time. Please contact us using the details below.

Data management

What data we collect: We'll collect the information you provide via online forms, such as the features of your garden. We'll also collect data from videos uploaded to MammalWeb as part of this project.

Personal information: Personal details such as postcode, names and email addresses will be stored separately from your camera-trap data. This means that your data will be anonymised before analysis.

Storage and security:  Video data will be uploaded directly to MammalWeb and stored securely on their platform. All other data will be stored on password-protected university systems and/or encrypted drives, accessible only to members of the research team. 

Risks to you

Risks associated with taking part are minimal as you’ll just be setting up cameras and sardine tins in your garden. 

Participants should take care when handling sardine tins, cameras and when attaching equipment outdoors to avoid minor cuts, scrapes, or tripping hazards. Wildlife may approach the food bait, but there is no risk of injury from animals. 

Standard precautions, such as washing hands after handling equipment and ensuring tins are securely fastened, are recommended. 

As with all online projects, there is a very small risk of a data breach. However, all data will be stored securely and handled in line with the University of Reading’s data protection policies.

Any questions? Contact us at ratsandhogs@reading.ac.uk