Wildlife Camera Project

Thanks for showing interest in our project! In the paragraphs below you will find additional information about the camera you just scanned. Please don't hesitate in contacting us in case you have additional questions or comments. The emails of our team are listed at the end of this page.

Project Introduction
U.S. pork producers face major challenges in preventing disease outbreaks. Disease risks are increase when wildlife interacts with pig carcasses stored in dead boxes for rendering or in composting bins, both of which are standard carcass disposal methods. Our preliminary research shows that wildlife frequently visits these sites, consuming and dispersing carcasses. This creates serious biosecurity concerns, especially with the threat of foreign animal diseases such as African Swine Fever (ASF), which has been spread in other regions by wild boar populations. With wild boars expanding their range in North America, understanding and mitigating these risks has never been more important.

Project Objectives
This project will document wildlife interactions with dead animal handling structures, and identify factors that influence wildlife activity. The motion-activated camera you sawis being used to monitor dead animal handling structures and detect wildlife presence, frequency, and behavior at these sites. Based on the recordings from these cameras, we will recommend practical interventions that help producers minimize wildlife access, such as improved dead box designs or management strategies.

Expected Outcomes
By the end of this project, we will deliver key tools and data to the swine industry, including a detailed characterization of disposal sites, documentation of wildlife visitation patterns, and a checklist of recommended structure features to reduce biosecurity risks. Ultimately, this project strengthens disease prevention strategies, enhances biosecurity, and helps train the next generation of veterinarians with cutting-edge skills for protecting swine health.

Researchers

Rafael Medeiros, Masters student, UMN - rafae005@umn.edu 

Igor Paploski, Principal Investigator, UMN - ipaplosk@umn.edu