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