Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.8cz8w9h5b

Description of the data and file structure

We collected data to evaluate the effects of lures and environmental covariates on the detection of sympatric mesocarnivores in southeast Oklahoma (USA), including plains spotted skunks (Spilogale interrupta), striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis), Northern raccoons (Procyon lotor), gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), coyotes (Canis latrans), bobcats (Lynx rufus), and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana). We conducted surveys during spring 2023 (January–May) using motion-triggered cameras. We surveyed each site using a cluster of 4 cameras. We used a leave-one-out lure design, where 3 cameras were randomly assigned 1 of 4 lures and 1 camera was a control (i.e., no lure). The lures we used included a skunk-based lure, fatty acid tablets, a sweet lure, and sardines. We used a conditional-replicate design based on the detection of a primary target species, the plains spotted skunk. We intended to sample each site for up to 35 days; after 14 days, we checked the camera, and if a plains spotted skunk was detected, we refreshed the lure present and continued to survey the site for another 21 days. Alternatively, if a plains spotted skunk was not detected in 14 days, we stopped surveying that site to facilitate surveying more sites.  Due to logistical constraints, some sites were surveyed >35 days. We identified camera images to species and generated site-level species-specific detection data for use within an occupancy modeling framework. For species in which the probability of detection at the site-level was influenced by the lure combination, we compared the number of independent detections at each camera to evaluate species-specific preference among lures (and the control). 

Files and variables

File: Image_Data.txt

Description: Details and species identification for images collected by remote cameras deployed at 82 sites for detecting mesocarnivores in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) during spring (Jan-May) 2023. Original image files are not included but are available by contacting the corresponding author, given the conservation status of the species involved.

Variables

• File__Site__DateTime: Image file name indicating (i) year, site number, and lure used (G = skunk-based lure, F = fatty acid tablet, B = a sweet lure, S = sardines, C = control [no lure]) as YYSSSL (e.g., 23000F: Year = 2023, Site = 000, Lure = fatty acid tablet), (ii) Date and 24-hr Time as YYYY-MM-DD__HH-MM-SS, (iii) the image number (provided parenthetically; which indicates the position of the image within a sequence of images of a single species from a single camera), and (iv) the file type (i.e., JPG).  
• Site: 3-digit Site ID (e.g., 000 = Site 000)
• Date_Time: Date and 24-hr Time as YYYY-MM-DD HH-MM-SS
• Animal: Common name of mesocarnivore species detected
• Number: Number of individuals detected in the image

File: Detection_Covariates.txt

Description: Site-specific and survey-specific covariates characterizing lure combination and environmental conditions, respectively, over the sampling period at each of 82 camera sites deployed for detecting mesocarnivores in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) during spring (Jan-May) 2023. Four lures—(1) a fatty acid tablet, (2) a skunk-based lure, (3) sardines, and (4) a sweet lure—were used in the study. Each site was set with a 3-lure combination (i.e., at each site, 1 of the 4 lures was randomly excluded). Thus, data associated with Lure covariates (i.e., LureA, LureB, and LureC) represent binary coding indicating which lure (among the 4 lures) was excluded. A site for which LureA, LureB, and LureC equal 0 indicates that the site had a lure combination excluding a sweet lure. For survey-specific (i.e., time-varying) covariates, "." is used to indicate values that were excluded (i.e., these represent covariate values that were not necessary because the data were associated with a site-date combination during which a survey was not conducted).

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• LureA: Binary coding indicating if the lure combination excluding fatty acid tablets was present (1) or absent (0)
• LureB: Binary coding indicating if the lure combination excluding skunk-based lure was present (1) or absent (0)
• LureC: Binary coding indicating if the lure combination excluding sardines was present (1) or absent (0)
• TMIN_1–TMIN_41: Minimum daily temperature (degrees Celsius) during survey K1–K41 (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." = missing value.
• RAIN_1–RAIN_41: Total precipitation (cm) during survey K1–K41 (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." = missing value.
• MOON_1–MOON_41:  Percent moon illumination during survey K1–K41 (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." = missing value.

File: Detection_PlainsSpottedSkunk.txt

Description: Camera-based detection histories for plains spotted skunks (Spilogale interrupta) sampled at 82 sites in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) over 41 days during Jan-May 2023.

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• SpottedSkunk_Encounter_History: Binary encounter history indicating if a plains spotted skunk was detected (1) or not (0) during an active survey (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." indicates that the site was not actively surveyed.

File: Detection_StripedSkunk.txt

Description: Camera-based detection histories for striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) sampled at 82 sites in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) over 41 days during Jan-May 2023.

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• StripedSkunk_Encounter_History: Binary encounter history indicating if a striped skunk was detected (1) or not (0) during an active survey (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." indicates that the site was not actively surveyed.

File: Detection_VirginiaOpossum.txt

Description: Camera-based detection histories for Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) sampled at 82 sites in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) over 41 days during Jan-May 2023.

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• Opossum_Encounter_History: Binary encounter history indicating if a Virginia opossum was detected (1) or not (0) during an active survey (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." indicates that the site was not actively surveyed.

File: Detection_Coyote.txt

Description: Camera-based detection histories for coyotes (Canis latrans) sampled at 82 sites in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) over 41 days during Jan-May 2023.

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• Coyote_Encounter_History: Binary encounter history indicating if a coyote was detected (1) or not (0) during an active survey (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." indicates that the site was not actively surveyed.

File: Detection_Bobcat.txt

Description: Camera-based detection histories for bobcats (Lynx rufus) sampled at 82 sites in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) over 41 days during Jan-May 2023.

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• Bobcat_Encounter_History: Binary encounter history indicating if a bobcat was detected (1) or not (0) during an active survey (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." indicates that the site was not actively surveyed.

File: Detection_NorthernRaccoon.txt

Description: Camera-based detection histories for Northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) sampled at 82 sites in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) over 41 days during Jan-May 2023.

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• Raccoon_Encounter_History: Binary encounter history indicating if a Northern raccoon was detected (1) or not (0) during an active survey (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." indicates that the site was not actively surveyed.

File: Detection_GrayFox.txt

Description: Camera-based detection histories for gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) sampled at 82 sites in southeastern Oklahoma (USA) over 41 days during Jan-May 2023.

Variables

• Site: Site identification
• GrayFox_Encounter_History: Binary encounter history indicating if a gray fox was detected (1) or not (0) during an active survey (where each survey was a 24-hr period); "." indicates that the site was not actively surveyed.

Code/software

No specialized software is required. All data is formatted as simple text files that may be viewed with any text editor.

Access information

Not Applicable