Fisher Checked Out Den Site

A fisher checking out the prospect bear den. I was hoping a bobcat might also check out this large hole . I left the trail camera. . Maybe some critter will wander around during the day light hours.

A lot of effort put in the last two weekends looking for a bear den. Its amazing how many root balls and blow downs you find bushwhacking  that could house a bear. No luck yet but I will continue  looking until the snow becomes to deep.

I have scouted out several new areas in North Central Massachusetts for camera trapping in 2020

I also would like to set a few camera traps some distance away and leave them for months, haven't quite figured out a plan for that yet.

Jim

Challenging Set

This set is on a steep embankment above the shoreline. I was really hoping a bear might of used it for a winter den. No luck.! It was a bit risky making this set with the snow. Bobcat sign has been consistent  in this area. On a rainy  summer hike a bobcat did give me a quick opportunity to snap a picture with my SLR camera.

I]ts hard to believe another year has passed! The year ends with reaching 3200 miles hiking the "Quabbin Woods" and what a year it's been! It started with locating a second bear den , camera trapping six or seven different bears throughout the year and having a large bear walk out in front of me while hiking!

I would like to thank you all for reading my blog!
Wishing you happy holidays
Jim

Presentations. I've had a number of inquiries about speaking at club events this year. You can find several of my wildlife talks on the cover page of my website .

Also added a short video of bears camera trapped in 2019

Final Bear Den Check / Inventory Equipment

 The last couple of days I checked my four bear den prospects with no takers. TC’s were set early October, not one bear checked out any of the sites which rather surprised me. Camera traps did show bobcats regularly visited three of the four locations. Given that information, I’ll set cameras out mid-February and hopefully one the locations will be used as a bobcat or coyote den site.

In December I bring in all my trail camera equipment to inventory, clean and check that the cameras are functioning properly. This year there are a few need to be replaced. As far a losing stuff, I’m only missing one padlock (that’s a good year!) Unfortunately one camera, cable lock & trailcampro mount were stolen. All in all a good year with equipment and wildlife captures.

Late fall scouting has given me two new areas to set (camera) trap lines for next year. The holidays will give me some time to set out a few winter sets

Jim

Snowshoeing N. Central Massachusetts

Snowshoeing is about as good as it gets camera trapping. This morning’s temperature was -3 with 20” inches of powered snow. Dressing in layers and a couple hand warmers in my gloves made for a comfortable hike. Last October I started looking for new areas in North Central Massachusetts to run a camera trap line targeting moose. Prior to the major snow storm earlier this week, previous scouting revealed a dozen piles of moose droppings and a number of small maple trees racked from antlers. One of the trees had marks better than seven feet high. On this morning’s jaunt I came across a number of moose droppings and three beds. One was extremely large the second large and the third small. Hopefully next week I can get back into this area and set out more trail cameras.

Jim

Nice Black Friday Hike !

It was a nice day hiking yesterday. The plan was to try and put eight miles on the ole" hiking boots. It didn't take long before I became distracted .Its the first bear track I've found this year
A short time later I came upon a pile of immature eagle feathers.Given the volume of feathers I would guess the eagle didn't make it. I spent considerable amount of time trying to find a leg band.

While looking for a leg band I stumbled a across what appeared to be pieces of a fawn skeleton.
Given its location it would not of been accessible in May or June with the high water levels we had last spring. Only a guess on my part , I think an eagle may have preyed on this fawn.

Jim

Stumbled upon this prospect bear den site this morning.. I didn't check it out to closely ,I was headed to check trail cameras at another site. Looks like it would be an ideal location . Its seclude and high.

I'll get back for a check before it snows. 

The two bear den site prospects I currently have trail cameras watching have  no bears in them, I'm surprised that neither of the two locations haven't had a bear check them out. Thinking about it,. once you understand where a bear will den,,then  you start seeing numerous places a bear could den..

I did a second presentation on " Camera Trapping Remote Beaver Ponds " this week for a land trust audience. The group had many questions and made for an enjoyable evening. Thanks to all that attended.

Its getting close for me to round up all my trail cameras , take inventory and put together a winter plan.

Jim

No Bear Den Activity - Time Is Running Out !!

Bear den checks this weekend showed three of the four prospect sites with only one night time visit from a bobcat.Time is running out! I didn't see many acorns hiking this morning. I would guess that most bears have started there long winter's nap. I'll give it a few more weeks then pull the trail cameras .
I want to thank those of you that attended my " Camera Trapping Remote Beaver Ponds " at the Rutland Library. As always I appreciate you coming out and listening to my wildlife adventures. There were excellent questions and feedback.---- Thank You

Just a reminder, the battery life in a trial camera can be significantly reduced with the recent cold nights. I had put lithium batteries in my many cameras last March. The cold temps this week pretty much killed them all. Today I put fresh batteries in the few sets that are still out.

Jim

No Bears Several Bobcats

No bears have yet to checkout  the four prospect den sites that I have found. That being said, three bobcats have checked out three of the four sites.
Weather this week in Massachusetts is going to be cold. The temperatures should influence bears to den. Who knows, maybe none of these four prospects will be used this year.
No doubt bobcats have an interest in them.

Jim

Bear Den Check Nov 2nd 2019

This morning  I checked three of the four bear den prospects that have trail cameras watching them.
Surprisingly not a single bear. Two of the sites had a bobcat check it out in the cover of darkness and two raccoons visited one of the sites.
It's been a pretty mild October and there are many more places to den than the four cavities I'm watching. Although, three of the four sites that I have covered have had bears in them over the last three years.
Two cameras were set up in prime moose habitat yesterday hoping to capture a bull moose during the day.


Jim

Presentation Nov 14th Rutland ,MA

Wow, hard to believe another year has passed since my last presentation.
I am very pleased with my camera trap efforts this last year  working to " Raise the Bar"
In this presentation I will share wildlife activity that occurs in this very quiet place and the things I've done to improve camera trapping captures.

It won't be long before bears den for the winter. I have added two new locations for a possible bear den sites. The first a friend made me aware of this ideal location on his property. No bear has used this tree cavity in the past. However, the landowner has seen more bears on his property this year than any past years, That along with the growing bear population in MA might be a possibility.

Above is a second prospect. Sure would be neat if at least one bear takes up residence.
I set trail cameras out early hoping to get a bear entering a den or at minimum see how may bears check it out .
Jim

Deer On The Move !

Deer activity sure has picked up ! Another few weeks they will be in full rut.]  Overall TC activity has slowed down,
I have four probable bear den sites located hoping at least one bear uses one of the four locations.
I.m pulling in a few trail cameras each week  until I have collected them all. It's time to inventory and clean them in preparation for winter sets.
I did get one picture of bear on Saturday. Not many weeks to go before all bears will have turned in for a long winters nap.

Jim

Best TC Picture To Date !

I typically don't set camera traps along the edge of fields concerned that they will  be easy targets for thieves . This field is located in prime moose habitat and I was willing to take the risk . After two weeks sitting out  and the moose rut winding down, it was time to pull this camera.
To my surprise there weren't many captures on the SD card. However. the few pictures that the TC captured are my best to date.
In my opinion this picture is about the best capture you  will get with a trial camera.

Thought is always given to location and background when I make camera trap sets. These are the few things that you can  control. The rest of it is good fortune hoping that some animal triggers the camera at the optimum time. That's what happened with this picture a lot of LUCK !!!!.


Jim

Not Long Before Bears Den

Won't be long now before bears den in north central MA.. Maybe another four weeks or so.   I've had a good year camera trapping bears . In a future post I'll tally up 2019 bears and share the results. It will be interesting to see when the last bear for the season crosses my favorite beaver dam.
Another week or so I'll set camera traps up on the two bears dens I located in the past
November and December bring many more people to the woods and it will be time for me to start bringing in my trail cameras. It's also gives me a chance to clean  and inventory what I have.
Late fall is also a good time to search for bear dens and explore new areas for camera trapping.

Jim               

Beaver Lodge Exposed

Bushwhacking a few weeks ago I stumbled across a beaver lodge in unique location which had little water with one beaver channel leading from the lodge to a very small brook. With the wet spring beavers built a small earth dam which raised the water level enough to support a lodge. Sometime this summer the dam breached, not sure whether natural or mechanical. I thought this would be an interesting place to set several camera traps. The first day checking for tracks there were moose, deer and beaver. Checking this week, no new tracks visible, the ground is drying up. Cameras traps did catch a bear, hare, beavers and otters. The goal is to catch a bear, bobcat and coyote checking this easily accessible lodge. Well, got the bear out of the way. Wasn’t sure that was going to happen before the bears den this fall. We’ll see what next week brings …..

Jim

Moose Rut in Full Swing

Bull moose are on the move with the rut. I'm  hoping to catch a good daytime picture of this guy. One camera  did get an early morning picture but the trail camera lenses had condensation on it.

One camera also captured a young bear with ear tags crossing a beaver dam. I enlarged the picture but couldn't read the tag number.

I located a breached secondary dam with a beaver lodge exposed. I set some camera traps , it will be interesting to see what type of wildlife checks the dam out.

Jim

Trail Camera's & Picture Composition

I've been working at attempting to add more picture composition when making camera trap sets. Many variables ! After locating an area you need to think about LIGHT. If the trail camera is placed where there is considerable light it can produce a decent picture. The picture above is a good example. The only post processing done was to straighten the photo. Below is the original.

Something has the doe in the backgrounds attention while the doe in the foreground searches for food unaware of any danger..

With the next TC check I will level this camera. Note the time , early AM.

My wife and I have been away camping for several weeks and the trail cameras have been somewhat busy. Lots of beavers , otters and a few bobcats. Bear activity continues to be slow. One camera did catch a sow with what looks to be 2nd year cubs crossing beaver dam on September 1st.

I'm assuming the sow is in the lead.

Jim 

Bear Activity Slowed Down

Trail camera's haven't picked up a bear in two weeks. I think is due to food source. The area the TC's are located have lots of blueberry patches. With black & blue berries past the bears will now follow  the food sources. Gypsy months have hit the area hard the last several years . I don't see any acorns on the ground.
So other than a bear passing through I don't anticipate much more bear activity in the areas I'm currently camera trapping.

That being said, bobcat activity has been consistent. The cat above looks like it could use a meal. Twice this year TC's have captured night pictures with the bobcat laying in wait on the beaver dam in anticipation of a beaver moving over the dam

Jim

Missed Awesome Opportunity

This picture above could of easily been a DSLR picture :(
On Friday checking trail cameras, this was the last camera trap set to change out SD cards. It was hot and muggy and I contemplated not even going into this tough area to pull the cards. I was tired ,hot and still had nearly a 3 mile hike back to the truck. I talked myself into hiding my DSLR camera,        ( heck , I have never had a pic op hiking into this area) about half way to the beaver dam I heard some very unusual noises. I immediately went in to stealth mode to try and get a glimpse of the ruckus.
I peaked out a short distance from the beaver dam and there was a female bobcat scolding her kitten for trying to follow her across the dam. It was an incredible experience seeing this. I watched this bobcat cross in front of the camera trap I had set. The kitten didn't venture out far enough to reach the camera. I am kicking myself in the butt for not carrying my  DSLR camera as I have many times hiking into this area.

Well, at least I got to see it !
Jim

Camera trapping bears is at its highest activity ever. This sow has three cubs, a second trail camera captured a distant picture of them crossing the beaver dam.
The bear above is similar in size to the picture that was posted last week. Reviewing the pictures the muzzle patterns are different.
That makes five different bears ( not counting cubs) in the same area over three week period.
I did learn  of another bear in the same general area the has a large white patch on its chest. It would be neat if it triggers one of my camera trap sets.

Now with a little luck this set will capture all four bears in on frame.

Jim

Busy Week For Bears !

The trail cameras have been quite busy in July with bears. The bear above doesn't have any cubs. It triggered several camera traps over the course of a week and was always alone.
That being said it may be a female . A second beaver dam in the same area had two bears cross it on the same evening several hours apart.
https://youtu.be/cs3nlEPAXJQ

A check of a third beaver dam this morning had no bears cross it over the last four weeks. I was really surprised.
I did get two bobcats. The night clip showed a bobcat that appears to be nursing.

Maybe at some point the kittens will cross the beaver dam

Jim

I really like it when a plan comes together ! This is a third North Central MA location that that has triggered my camera traps with a bear. Hiking a few weeks back I noticed an area of ferns that were trampled down leading into the wood-line. At first It looked to be deer or maybe moose. Closer investigation showed the fern stems were all bent as if  a foot from a person cut through the area. I thought that might be possible but most likely not given its location,  so I set a camera trap at the base of a larger white pine tree.
Love it when a plan comes together!
Jim

Two Bear Morning

It;'s been awhile since any excitement carrying my SLR camera.
Well this morning was action packed. A short distance from where I part my truck a small bear was in the road. There was no possibility of a picture but was a neat to see as t wandered across the road and disappeared into the woods.I was a small bear most likely a 11/2 year old off on t own.

What would the possibility off seeing two bears in one day. It's never happened until this morning.
The bear above appeared out of nowhere forty yards in front of me, exciting to say the least !

Trail Cameras worked overtime last week . It will take me awhile to review them all. . Great problem to have.


Jim

Took Three Yeas !

Took three years to finally get a bobcat traveling the beaver dam in the direction of the camera and with good light.
Interesting bear data. Only one bear has crossed this dam since April. Last year at this time there were five bear crossings. More than likely it was probably several different bears using the dam .
I know there is a sow with three cubs and a sow with a second year cub in the general area.

The hike this morning was hot and uneventful. I didn't see a thing.!
Earlier this week a friend hiked the same area and had two bears walk out in front of him then casually walked away as he videoed them with his camera.. Hopefully one of these days I get an opportunity like that.

Trail Cameras were slow again this morning only capturing the bobcat above.

Jim

It's Hot !

Already have ten miles on the ole' hiking boots this week and haven't seen but two deer. As active as the trail cameras were last week there uneventful this week.
This morning I headed out earlier than usual so I could hike into a distant swamp near first light. It was a beautiful sunrise and the only thing I saw was the tail of a beaver as it hit the water.
A head net is an absolute ! Without it the likelihood you wont be staying too long nor sitting still.
I've located a new spot for moose, already have five different moose tc pics over the last month. Should be a good area come this fall.

Jim

Many Moose On Tc's

Hiking with my camera this weekend was uneventful. It makes me wonder!
Trail Cameras have been working overtime. Been getting more tc pics of moose than any prior year.
Also been getting lots of bobcat trail camera pictures. That goes to show you that you got to be in the right place at the right time!
I have a few days off this week , hopefully things will pick up

Jim

Lots of Light and LUCK !

Very slow weekend for pics with my SLR. I did have a doe walk out in front of me. So there was little activity with regard to wildlife. There was no shortage of deer flies. Definitely need a good bug spray or head net out in the woods.
A trail camera did capture a nice shot of a coyote. Lot of luck and a coyote that stopped in the right place.
Bears pics have been slow the last few weeks. Hopefully that will change.
Been getting more moose pics than I usually do.Hopefully that means a good fall !
Jim

Hike-odometer Hit 3000 Mikes Hiked in "Quabbin"

Well, here it is mid- June 2019 . It was about eight years ago I started consistently hiking “ The Quabbin “weekends looking to rack up hiking miles. This week the hike-odometer did roll over to three thousand miles hiked within the boundaries of The Quabbin Reservoir Reservation. How do I know that, each hike starts with setting my GPS ,tracking the miles, then recording each day’s data and wildlife sightings .Sounds kind of crazy doesn’t it! The quest for the miles wasn’t even a thought early on. Hiking while learning to use a camera was the primary focus and most outings provided some sort of wildlife to take a picture of.

Reaching the three-thousand-mile milestone isn’t a real accomplishment . Heck, it took eight years to do it! The real achievement was the constant hiking which put me in a situations to see wildlife that most people will never experience.
Where does it go from here ?
Took Friday off from work and spent the day hiking to camera trap sets. Trail cameras have been busy. I am trying to capture a picture of a cow and calf moose. I did get a cow without a calf and two different bull moose

Jim

Nice Morning To Be Out Hiking !

Just as the sun was coming up this doe appeared in this small field. I watched her for a while before she noticed me. I was hoping to see a fawn.
Hiking along I came across a snapping turtle laying eggs. On my return trip she had finished and covered the hole. I'll bet if I were to go back this afternoon and check some critter would have already consumed the eggs.

Check this video out. Be sure to turn it up ! This trail camera would of been ruined if not for the metal case.

Jim

Been A Good Few Days Hking

Above are me and my grandson. He made his first real hike at 31/2 . He hiked from the orange gate to Soapstone Hill and back ( approx. 3 mile round trio). Not bad ! for those little legs (lol) My wife also  also came along taking pictures of him holding a toad and touching a ribbon snake. He truly loves nature !

This weeks hiking was eventful seeing a mature bear, bobcat and red fox. The bear didn't present any pic opportunity. Did get a pic of the bobcat and fox.

Spent a considerable amount of time tweaking camera trap sets hoping to get more bear pics and maybe  a moose with a calf.

No shortage of skeeters this weekend!

Jim

It's Bear Time !

It's time for male bears to start looking for a mate.  A swamp in north central MA. gave up a glimpse of two adult bears travelling together. Adult bears are typically solitude animals and will only tolerate close proximity when its breeding season.

Watch closely , you will catch a glimpse of the two adult bears. The bear that walked up to the trail camera left dirty nose smudges on the lens.

I have put camera traps in a half dozen different swaps hoping to get bears and possibly a cow moose with a calf.
We shall see !
Jim

Just Never Know !

Woods were " Alive" with wildlife. I had two neat experiences with deer. While watching a swamp a doe came along about thirty yards away feeding and drinking. She had no idea I was there. Watching her wade and eat undetected made for a very enjoyable morning. On the hike back to the truck I saw a doe feeding working her way towards the dirt road. She picked up on my movement and instead of turning and running she challenged me to get a pic in mid air. This only the second time I ever had an opportunity to get a " Flying Deer " lol

Jim

Want To See Lots Of Bears & Beautiful Sunsets !

Want To See Lots Of Bears & Beautiful Sunsets !


Then you need to visit GSMNP in Tennessee. Three days gave up ten bears. ( 2 adult-2 adolescent & 4-cubs. Most of the bears were seen on the Cades Cove eleven mile loop road. I wasn't lucky enough to see any bears  real close, but did see pictures from other photographers of some real nice bear pics Spending  two half days in the park I  also saw two coyotes. many deer and turkey's .The park was a busy place with  many bear jams.  The cubs were seen in two different locations. Three were in one group in a maple tree and a single cub was sound a sleep in the notch of a oak tree.                                                                        Picture taken from Morton''s Landing in the park.                                                                                                           

On of three cubs in this tree

Jim

Cautious Coyote

The picture above is my best eastern coyote taken with a trail camera. I lightened it up and added a touch of contrast to bring the picture out. Looking at how plump this coyote is, might suggest it’s a female about to have pups which would be due any day now.

It was a good day hiking with changing out SD cards in trail cameras. The water level is incredibly high which is certainly impacting wildlife. The first swamp I hiked to had very high-water levels which had a beaver lodge flooded. By that I mean, the water was so high, it was half way up the lodge which likely had the inside chamber(s) flooded. The second swamp I hiked to, the beaver dam was breached which left low water levels in the beaver pond. I did see one of the beavers swimming in the reservoir. This dam has ruptured in the past. I would expect once the water recedes a bit the beavers will repair this dam.

A friend reported that a goose nest he has been watching was lost to the excessive water levels. Its early enough in the season I think the pair of geese will re-establish a second nest.

Sure glad this significant rain is happening now and hopefully not in a few months,  changing water levels would certainly have an impact on nesting loons.

Next week heading to a national part with lots of bears. Hopefully one will be in a photogenic mood.

Jim

Good Morning To Set Trail Cameras

Picture above is from the bear den last month, two cubs playing rough .

It wouldn't of been a good morning to hike with my camera so I put on a rain suit and packed a couple of trail cameras. Sure was a good morning for this activity.

After setting them up I hiked to a camera trap set that I put out in early March. I was rather pleased with the variety of mammals that use the short beaver dam. Next time I hike in I'll change the camera to camera with better optics.
Last Sunday hiking I did get a distant bull moose and a few pics of two sandhill cranes. Seeing theses cranes in the boundaries of Quabbin was a first.
Jim

Took 3000 Pics To Get This One !

It took several weeks and 3000 triggers of the trail camera to catch this bobcat watching one of my favorite swamps. I find this capture unique ! Last spring I got a scraggly bear sitting on the same log.
When reviewing the SD card it was very monotonous changing one picture to the next watching the flora sway in the wind. The pic above was one of five out of 3000.  It is always important to review all pics, Sure glad I took the time.
I did get out for a bit this morning seeing seven deer and lots of turkey's.

Skunk cabbage also coming along well. This is typically a bears first meal after leaving its den.

Hopefully it wont be raining in the morning so that I can check a few trail cameras

Jim

Good Start To Camera Trapping 2019

This sow is a Massachusetts study bear shown with one of her thee cubs. This was taken with a Reconyx XR6. I am pleased with the clarity of the picture .
 TC checks this weekend showed lots of beavers,otters and ducks.
One more camera to put out next week and we are good to go for the spring. Ticks are BAD. Stay tick aware !
I found two fairly recent bobcat scat piles on my hike this morning. This was good to see. I may set the last camera in this area.

Not any opportunities this weekend with my camera. One of these days i'm going to round a corner on a dirt road and have a bear pose for me . lol

Jim

Turkey Time !

Certainly no shortage of turkey's. There was activity in most fields and secluded shorelines.
Gobbling could be heard before the crack of dawn.

Hiked in and checked the trail camera set that  was put  on last years bear den. Unfortunately a porcupine has taken up residency. I pulled the camera and moved to another new area hoping to catch a bear.

Jim

Time For Bears

I've heard of at least one bear out and about last week. Little early yet for sows with cubs. Skunk cabbage isn't sprouting yet. Another week or so and all the bears should be out looking for there first meal. My trail cameras are all out in hopes of camera trapping an early bear.
Hiked in to a favorite spot this morning setting a camera trap on a beaver dam that captured two different bears in 2018. It will be interesting to see if both bears made it thru the winter.

Wanted to share this pic of a bobcat from last month. This is the first bobcat seen in my backyard. There are plenty of rabbits in the neighborhood. ( maybe not now ! ) My wife also saw a fisher in the yard. Probably should set out a trail camera and see what else is around.
Jim

Coyote On Ice

Well the last thing I would off expected to see this morning was a coyote on this ice. I tried to close the gap to get a closer picture. I cracked a piece of ice under foot and the coyote was gone in a flash. No doubt this ice will be gone this week. Wont be long before the fisherman are out.

Saturday was also a good morning out with the camera. Overseeing  open water presented a few photo ops with eagles and mergansers.

Checked on a few tc's this morning. I hope to get  a bear with this swamp camera trap set.
Ticks are out !

Jim