This project aims to capture population trends by estimating absolute abundance of American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) every 2-3 years and relative abundance of three forest mammals (American Black Bear, Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) and Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp.)) annually. Forty two 6.8 km2 grid cell units on the landscape are surveyed for animal presence three times per season between May and September using remote wildlife cameras. Cameras are cycled through the 42 sites over the course of the sampling season with each survey lasting ca. 2 weeks within a 6 week period. At present 2 methods of abundance estimation are being considered and compared: (1) A DNA-based spatially explicit capture-recapture method that will allow for unbiased estimation of absolute abundance and (2) A wildlife camera trapping method that allows to estimate site occupancy on the landscape as a measure of relative abundance. Forest carnivores provide an excellent resource for long term ecological integrity monitoring and the analysis of population changes over time. Ecosystems with top carnivores are thought to have high biodiversity and be functioning well in terms of nutrient and energy cycling.