Environmental monitoring, specifically when dealing with large mammal inventories, require high resolution digital still images. With high resolution pictures a more detailed analysis of the animals can be achieved. To fulfill this requirement a trap camera with a 5 MP resolution was developed. The trap camera is part of the TAPIRnet initiative goals, which are to develop a wireless image sensor network. The paper explains the requirements and decisions made for successfully controlling a 5 MP CMOS sensor with a DSPIC processor. The criteria for selecting the components, the hardware requirements and the control software are also explained.