UTILIZING EDNA, WILDLIFE CAMERAS, AND ACOUSTIC RECORDING UNITS TO DETECT WILDLIFE AT THE TULE ELK STATE NATURAL RESERVE

Anna Talken; atalken@riverpartners.org; Emma Havstad, Sarah Gaffney

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a powerful, non-invasive tool for detecting wildlife, including rare and sensitive species. In 2025, River Partners performed eDNA sampling at 19 sites across more than 3000 acres in the San Joaquin Valley, capturing 1200 samples as part of our baseline monitoring effort to evaluate biodiversity on sites before and after restoration. eDNA offers key advantages, including the ability to detect cryptic or non-vocal species. However, it also presents limitations, such as a lack of genetic data for certain species and sensitivity to environmental conditions. One site of particular interest was the Tule Elk State Natural Reserve in California, where over 20 sensitive species have historically been detected. At this site, we conducted baseline monitoring using eDNA, wildlife camera traps, and acoustic recording units (ARUs). We collected soil-based eDNA samples from 12 transect locations, sampled twice per year, resulting in a total of 288 samples, and deployed 10 camera traps and 10 ARUs between April and July 2025. We will present data from each method and discuss the species that were detected, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the effectiveness of different monitoring techniques.

A.I. and eDNA 
Friday 8:45 AM