Detecting small mammal species for wildlife research and management typically depends on animals deciding to engage with a device, for instance, by entering a trap. While some animals engage and are detected, others do not, and we often lack a mechanistic understanding of what drives these decisions. As trappability can be influenced by traits of personality, personality has high potential to similarly influence detection success for non-capture devices (chew-track cards, tracking tunnels, etc.). We present a conceptual model of the detection process where animal behaviours which are detected by different devices are grouped into tiers based on the degree of intimacy with a device (e.g., approach, interact, enter). Each tier is associated with an increase in the perceived danger of engaging with a device, and an increase in the potential for personality bias. To test this model, we first surveyed 36 populations of free-living black rats (Rattus rattus), a global pest species, to uniquely mark individuals (n = 128) and quantify personality traits. We then filmed rat behaviour at novel tracking tunnels with different risk-reward treatments. As predicted, detection biases were driven by personality, the bias increased with each tier and differed between the risk treatments. Our findings suggest that personality biases are not limited to live-capture traps but are widespread across devices which detect specific animal behaviours. In showing that biases can be predictable, we also show biases can be managed. We recommend that studies involving small mammal sampling report on steps taken to manage a personality-driven bias.

为野生动物研究和管理检测小型哺乳动物物种通常取决于动物决定使用设备，例如进入陷阱。虽然有些动物参与并被检测到，但其他动物没有，而且我们通常对驱动这些决定的原因缺乏机械理解。由于可捕获性会受到个性特征的影响，个性具有同样影响非捕获设备（咀嚼卡、跟踪隧道等）检测成功的巨大潜力。我们提出了一个检测过程的概念模型，其中由不同设备检测到的动物行为根据与设备的亲密程度（例如，接近、交互、进入）进行分组。每一层都与使用设备的感知危险的增加有关，以及增加人格偏见的可能性。为了测试这个模型，我们首先调查了 36 个自由生活的黑鼠种群（Rattus rattus），一种全球性害虫物种，用于唯一标记个体（n  = 128）并量化个性特征。然后，我们在具有不同风险回报处理的新型跟踪隧道中拍摄了老鼠的行为。正如预测的那样，检测偏差是由个性驱动的，偏差随着每一层的增加而增加，并且在风险处理之间有所不同。我们的研究结果表明，个性偏见不仅限于现场捕捉陷阱，而且在检测特定动物行为的设备中广泛存在。在表明偏见可以预测的同时，我们还表明可以管理偏见。我们建议涉及小型哺乳动物抽样的研究报告为管理个性驱动的偏见所采取的步骤。