Injured Black Bear Resilient !

 

One of my trail cameras recorded an injured sow on June 1st, with a male following her. The extent of her injuries became clearer when she appeared on a second trail camera on June 8th, revealing a top rump injury that could be road burn and a lower wound with a significant piece of flesh missing. It is possible the injuries resulted from a collision with a vehicle. On June 14th, the sow scent marked using her non-injured side, and on June 15th, she was videoed crossing a log bridge, showing agility despite her injuries. By July 3rd, footage from a fifth trail camera showed the wound healing and no apparent decline in her mobility or condition.

The reason for sharing this video is to show how resilient a black bear can be, Despite her injuries. She likely mated,  continued scent marking “ Gently rubbed on ritual scent marking trees, appears to still be foraging, and has put on miles wandering central Massachusetts. Hopefully, she continues healing and passes another TC to see her continued progress.

Jim

STOP – video graphic, showing injured bear!

https://youtu.be/L96iYigKDQg

TC Slowed With HEAT!

 

Trail camera activity was minimal last week due to high temperatures. The cow moose with one calf remains in the vicinity, occasionally captured on camera as they pass by. Bear activity has decreased in several areas. Blueberries are about to ripen, which may increase bear activity in these regions.

Jim

Eaglets Will Fledge Soon

 

Earlier this week, I went kayaking, caught a few fish, and took pictures of eaglets before they fledged. Bear activity at the scent marking trees is slowing as mating season winds down by the end of June. Deer flies require wearing a head net for woodland walks. Blueberries will soon be ripe, with bushes full due to the wet spring.

 

Jim

Bear Encounter - What Would Of You Done ?

 

An eventful week in the woods.

This sow with cubs hasn’t been around in a while, ( Pic Above)  The cubs are getting big.

The video was a surprise. Likely not to see this again. https://youtu.be/_i1z-ahuzZo

 

 

While hiking behind a beaver pond, I met a sow and her yearling eating skunk cabbage near the trail. I didn't notice them until I heard loud tearing sounds. The bears were so focused on foraging skunk cabbage that they didn't hear me approaching. The incident lasted about twenty seconds, giving me time to decide what to do.

My first thought was "Oh crap!" as I never expected this! I was so close that sudden movement might startle the sow, who was just a short lunge away. I chose to freeze, hoping she would scent or see me and leave. She looked up at me in disbelief before bolting off, stopping thirty yards away and looking back for her cub. The yearling cub stayed by a small tree, watching me. I slowly backed away, and after a few steps, the yearling ran to its mother.

Thankfully, my decision worked out well. Let me know your thoughts . What would you have done ?   hikingcamera@aol.com

Jim

Moose Cow & Calf

 

Every year I hope to get at least one cow and calf video. Last year I struck out. Hopefully with this early capture they’ll be more to come.

Tc’s captured two pregnant cows earlier this year.

 

Jim

 

Mating season for bears is in full swing. My TC’s videoed two different females being followed by males. Sows with cubs have all but disappeared around bear marking trees and for good reason. A mother bear wouldn’t want conflict with a male bear. I have read that a male bear will kill cubs in attempt to push the female back into estrus. Think about that for a moment. It doesn’t make sense. The likelihood of a lactating female coming back into heat is rare and do you think the male is going to stick around that long? If it were true that killing a cub does send female back into estrus , wouldn’t all the cubs need to be removed.

Male black bears are opportunistic foragers. If a cub or fawn were in its path, likely it would be killed and eaten.

MassWildlife put together an excellent presentation about co-existing with bears. The presentation is informative.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnH_7ZHlFNo

Jim

You Just Don't Know ! Trail Camera

 

Two trail cameras have been monitoring this location for at least three years with minimal wildlife captured on video. I pulled the trail cameras this week looking to redeploy in another area and  hopefully video more wildlife. After reviewing the videos, I returned to that same  location two days later and reset the trail cameras

 https://youtu.be/6lMUBdLhhEw

Jim