The use of camera‐trap methods, though important, has pitfalls and inconsistencies such as factors and interactions that may influence species photo rates. Jaguar ( Panthera onca ) camera‐trap studies place cameras at sites where jaguar detections are likely greater (e.g., sites with previous evidence such tracks, feces, and other presence signs), but do not account for potential placement biases. Our study evaluated methodological implications of a paired camera‐trap design at trail and off‐trail locations, and climate seasonality, on photo rates of jaguars, their prey, and competitors. From June 2016 to June 2017, camera traps were deployed at 58 different sites in a hexagon grid array of 3 km ² each in the Sector Santa Rosa (SSR) of Área de Conservación Guancaste in Costa Rica. Half of the cameras were located at a trail location that jaguars were likely to use, and the other half at an off‐trail location closest to each hexagon centroid. We estimated a photographic relative abundance index (RAI; no. of independent photos/100 trap nights) and used Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) to assess statistical evidence of trail location and climate seasonality. With a total effort of 19,408 trap nights, we recorded 12,678 independent photo events of 64 species of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. For the 3 bird species and 14 mammal species we focused on, most species‐specific RAIs were greater at trail locations ( n = 8 species, including jaguars and pumas [ Puma concolor ]), some were greater at off‐trail locations ( n = 2 species, including collared peccaries [ Pecari tajacu ]), and there was no discernable location effect for others ( n = 7 species, including tapirs [ Tapirus bairdii ] and white‐tailed deer [ Odocoileus virginianus ]). For jaguars, sex ratio data showed a smaller proportion of males at off‐trail locations. Analysis of competitor and prey interaction data indicated temporal segregation at trail locations. Further jaguar camera‐trap studies should highlight camera placement as important source of bias that might influence results; hence, conservationists must be aware of this to avoid erroneous decisions.

A 3- to 4-mo-old male ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and a 6- to 8-mo-old female margay (Leopardus weidii) were brought in from the wild, held in captivity, and rehabilitated for 906 and 709 days, respectively, at the Rescate Wildlife Rescue Center in Costa Rica. During captivity, both cats were kept as isolated as possible from humans and fed appropriate live wild prey. After maturing and demonstrating the ability to capture and feed on live prey, the cats were radio-collared, released at a national wildlife refuge previously assessed for predator and prey occurrence, and monitored. After 54 days, the ocelot was trapped while preying on chickens in a nearby community, and after 20 days, the margay was found dead, likely due to ocelot predation. Avoiding habituation to humans, assuring hunting abilities, and assessing release sites likely is not sufficient to assure successful release of these species, and more experimental releases with innovative and detailed protocols and monitoring are needed.

Corcovado National Park (CNP) in Costa Rica is an important destination for ecotourism. However, the effects of increasing human visitation on wildlife needed evaluation and the global COVID‐19 pandemic lockdown provided a scenario to test the effects of tourist activity on wildlife presence and activity. We performed a camera trap survey initiated during the COVID‐19 lockdown and continuing when tourism resumed (Oct 2020–May 2021). We deployed camera traps on walking trails, including those that remained closed to tourists at all times (control) and those open to tourists after the lockdown was lifted (experimental). With an effort of 2312 trap nights, we assessed the photo rates and diel activity patterns of humans, 11 other species of mammals, and two species of birds. Our results suggest that wildlife species were already habituated to tourists in this area, and thus their behavior and activity did not change after the lockdown was lifted.

Jaguars (Panthera onca) are a landscape species of conservation importance and our understanding of environmental and anthropogenic drivers of jaguar occurrence is necessary to improve conservation strategies. We reviewed available literature to simply describe environmental and anthropogenic variables used and found to be significant in occurrence modeling. We reviewed 95 documents published from 1980 to 2021 that focused on jaguar occurrence and that used 39 variable types (21 anthropogenic, 18 environmental) among different techniques, scales, and approaches. In general, these variables included both anthropogenic (roads, land use, human activities, and population) and environmental (climate, vegetation, ecological interactions, topographic, water, and others) factors. Twelve variables were identified as affecting jaguar occurrence overall, eleven at local scale and seven at broad scales (regional and continental). Focusing more specifically on the variables that correlate with occurrence should help researchers to make better predictions in areas without quantitative jaguar data.

Herbivores obtain nutrients mostly from the vegetation they consume, but may obtain additional minerals during periods of nutritional stress by consuming bones (osteophagia), a behavioral strategy that has been reported for many wild ungulate species, including the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Here we document multiple records (n = 183 camera-trap records) of osteophagia by white-tailed deer chewing sea turtle remains (resulting from jaguar [Panthera onca] predation) near a nesting beach in Santa Rosa National Park, Costa Rica during January-September 2017. Females with fawns, males with hard and velvet-covered antlers, and non-spotted fawns reached a peak of sea turtle bone consumption during June to August. We hypothesize that seasonality, sex, age, and individual growth stage influence the frequency of osteophagy as a strategy to cope with environmental changes and food resource scarcity. Finally, these observations highlight the role of an apex predator as indirectly influencing rare but important ecological processes.