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Editing and sharing trail camera clips
Copy your footage safely, trim the best moments with free software, and share clips with friends or as wildlife records that help conservation.
- Time
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 7
- Checked
What you’ll need
- Computer, tablet or phone
- SD card reader Search Amazon for SD card reader USB
- Free editing software (VLC, Shotcut, Clipchamp or iMovie)
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Safety first
- Don't share clips showing identifiable neighbours or passers-by. See privacy and neighbours.
- Avoid giving exact locations of badger setts or other sensitive sites when posting publicly. See watching badgers and foxes responsibly.
Step by step
-
Step 1: Copy everything off the card first
Use a card reader to copy files to your computer before deleting anything. MammalWeb suggests a folder for each site and a subfolder for each deployment period, named by date, so clips don't get mixed up.
Next: step 2 -
Step 2: Find the file type and play it
Your manual will say which video format the camera saves. If a clip won't play, try VLC, a free, open-source player for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS that plays most video files without add-ons.
Next: step 3 -
Step 3: Trim with a free editor
Shotcut is free and open source for Windows, Mac and Linux, and handles hundreds of formats. Clipchamp (Microsoft) trims by dragging the handles at each end of a clip, and its free plan exports up to 1080p. iMovie on Mac, iPhone and iPad trims by dragging a clip's start or end. Cut down to the moment the animal appears. Short clips are easier to share and review.
Next: step 4
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Step 4: Export in a widely supported format
Export a copy as an MP4 from your editor and keep the original file untouched. If you've added a timestamp, consider whether you want the location visible before posting publicly.
Next: step 5 -
Step 5: Share as a wildlife record on iRecord
iRecord, run by the Biological Records Centre (part of UKCEH), lets you log sightings with photos. Records get automatic checks and expert review, and are shared with national recording schemes, local environmental records centres and, for most records, the NBN Atlas. A clear still from your clip helps verification.
Next: step 6 -
Step 6: Upload camera-trap images to MammalWeb
MammalWeb is a citizen-science project started by Durham Wildlife Trust and Durham University. As a 'Trapper' you add a site (with an OS grid reference of at least 8 digits, the camera height and habitat), enter the deployment dates and upload. Keep the page open until uploads finish, and use smaller batches on a slow connection. You can also help identify others' images as a 'Spotter'.
Next: step 7 -
Step 7: Share with friends and on social media
Most phones and social apps accept MP4 clips. Be careful about revealing the exact location of sensitive wildlife such as badger setts, and avoid posting footage that shows identifiable people.
Tips
- Grab a still frame from a video for records that only take photos.
- Keep a simple log (date, time, site, species) as you review. It makes recording much quicker.
Questions people ask
What free software can I use to trim clips?
Shotcut (Windows, Mac, Linux), Clipchamp's free plan, or iMovie on Apple devices. VLC is a good free player for files that won't open.
My trail camera video won't play. What can I do?
Try VLC, which plays most formats. If that fails, check the file copied fully and the card isn't faulty.
Where can my footage help conservation?
iRecord shares verified records with recording schemes and records centres, and MammalWeb collects camera-trap images of mammals.
Should I delete clips from the card after copying?
Yes, once they're safely backed up. Formatting the card in the camera clears it ready for the next deployment.
Sources
Checked 18 October 2026. We wrote this guide in our own words, using:
- MammalWeb camera trapping tips and tricks (Great North Museum) (northeastmuseums.org.uk)
- VideoLAN: VLC media player (videolan.org)
- Shotcut video editor (shotcut.org)
- Microsoft support: trim videos in Clipchamp (support.microsoft.com)
- Clipchamp: free and premium plans (clipchamp.com)
- Apple support: trim and arrange clips in iMovie (support.apple.com)
- iRecord: about (irecord.org.uk)
- MammalWeb (mammalweb.org)
- Mammal Society: MammalWeb citizen science project (mammal.org.uk)
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Printed from wildlifetrailcameras.co.uk/guides/editing-and-sharing-trail-camera-clips/ · Checked 18 October 2026 · Research reviews, not hands-on tests: specifications come from manufacturers and findings from the independent reviewers we link to. Check the law before filming beyond your own property.