Somewhere along the ridges of the San Geronimo Valley, a wild animal has just triggered a motion-activated camera. The image, along with a couple million more, is helping researchers to better understand population and migration trends of wildlife across the valley and on Mount Tamalpais.

Some 180 cameras are scattered on a calculated grid throughout the Gary Giacomini and Roy’s Redwoods Open Space Preserves, Samuel P. Taylor and Mount Tamalpais State Parks and Muir Woods…