Monitoring Mammal Utilization of Ephemeral Fresh Water Systems through Motion Sensor Cameras in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert

Indio Mountains Research Station (IMRS), in the northern Chihuahuan Desert, contains one natural, permanent spring (Squaw Spring) and many man-made ephemerally-full tanks, both of which are presumably important for the survival of many species residing in that area. The goal of this study was to monitor wildlife use of these water bodies using motion sensor cameras to determine species-specific preferences for individual water bodies, temporal activity patterns and the reasons for these preferences. We installed motion sensor cameras and water level loggers at five different water bodies throughout IMRS. The dominant mammals visiting the tanks were collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia). Occasional visits by domestic cattle, which are usually excluded from IMRS, resulted in substantial declines in wildlife visits. When the tanks were full, the frequency of mammal visits increased; only collared peccary visited dry tanks. Unlike other mammals, which largely drank from the ponds, collared peccary were observed eating vegetation and cooling off in the mud. Research on mammal activity in the desert is challenging due to the extreme environmental conditions. This study has shown that both natural and man-made tanks are important for the survival of many species that reside in this area.