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