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