Winter Bear Tracks

 

Last weekend while bushwhacking to check a winter trail cam set, I came across a set of bear tracks. It’s not unusual for a bear to be out during January in Massachusetts, especially with the mast acorn crop from last fall. With decades of winter hiking this was only the fourth bear track I’ve ever came across during the winter months.  Then, what made this track so special? The weather. Earlier in the week a snowstorm dropped about five inches before turning to heavy rain, then temperatures rose to the low forties. While all those weather changes were going on, a bear wandered across a

Beaver pond leaving nearly perfect imprints in the ice substrate. The track detail even showed the claws.

The track impressed me so much that I went back the following day to attempt casting several of the bear tracks. There were some challenges with the cold, but I was able to cast three tracks, two front and one back foot.

Jim

Winter Wildlife Activity

 did  get some hiking in last Sunday checking trail cameras. Dressing in layers made for a comfortable outing. The hope was to find some early sheds. (antlers) . Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, but did find three moose beds. The size indentation in the snow would suggest two full grown moose and a calf. The video below shows some mid- winter animal activity in the area the moose beds were found.

Recent  extreme cold temperatures in Massachusetts have iced over swamps giving me access to new areas that were tough trying to scout late last year. I have located one new area with a beaver dam that looks promising. Plans are to set two camera traps on each end of the dam come spring.

I hope to find one more dam before winters out.

Jim

 

Wow!  A bit chilly this morning. It’s “0” degrees with a -22 wind chill factor OUCH!!

I decided to stay in this morning and catch up on some things. I did hike 8.5 miles yesterday checking trail cameras. It was a beautiful day for hiking with temps reaching the mid- thirties.

Trail camera activity was slow but I did get a surprise. My first January bear!  It appears to be a yearling that hasn’t quite figured out its time to den. My guess that it’s still out in about because it has found a sustainable food source. I have not found a pile of bear scat with any sunflower seeds in it. So maybe it’s the abundant acorn crop or this bear just hasn’t figured it out yet. With below zero temperatures this weekend and a wet snowy day coming on Monday, just might make this bear think about finding a den.

So, along with getting a January bear video, there was enough snow for it to leave tracks. I took the opportunity and followed the tracks backwards to see what I might learn. The bear located a new bank beaver lodge and stood directly on top of it looking for food, I’m sure the aroma of beaver castor caught its attention. Continuing tracking the bear, it took me to a second beaver pond. There it looked into a bank beaver tunnel where a beaver deposited a scat pile at the tunnel entrance, again no food opportunities. Continuing backtracking the bear crossed a hardwood ridge covered with about an inch of snow blanketing any acorns. I broke off from the bear tracks at this point.

It was a very good day tracking and hiking.

(3) Different bobcat tracks

(1) Bear track

(1) Moose track

5/6 coyote tracks

Many deer tracks

Bear track along a beaver pond

Beaver Scat - Bear checked tunnel entrance 

 

Jim

 

Three remote camera traps were set out last weekend. The hopes are to get a daytime bull moose in the snow. Last Sunday morning was spent bushwhacking a new area ( pic above). I hiked about seven miles, locating another ideal drainage area with a beaver dam in a wide open area with plenty of light. I’m excited about this spot. Further investigation showed three piles of bear scat ! Can’t asked for any more than that!

With most of my trail cameras home its time to clean and inspect them. I have several that need to be replaced before spring. Also ,SD cards need to be looked at closely. I have found a number of cards with the lamination splitting on the contact end. 

Jim

What A Way To Wrap Up 2021

 

Last weekends check on this camera trap set had  ears of a bobcat sneaking by. The camera was initially  setup last spring for bears. The day before the above video grab was taken I hiked back in to adjust the camera.  Yep ! Sure glad I did.

This is the best bobcat capture to date with a trail camera. 

What a BEAUTIFUL capture !

Happy New Year !

Jim

Wishing You Happy Holidays

 

Wishing You All Merry Christmas and a Happy , Healthy New Year.

Yearling cubs out and about mid-December. Hopefully it has figured out its time to take a long winters nap.

Jim

Single Bears Mid-December

This morning I  hiked to swap out SD cards. . Expectations were low given the time of year and the trail cameras have been slow the last few weeks. I was surprised to see bear activity in  December. Two trail cameras captured better than thirty videos late November through Mid December of bears. Reviewing the footage, three bears represented all the video activity. There were no Sow's with cubs. 

This fall the woods were loaded with food. White Oak & Red Oak Acorns were abundant.. There was no shortage of Concord Grapes or Hickory Nuts.

These three bears appeared  very plump !

Weather has been pretty mild for December. It will be interesting to see if bears stay active for the remainder of December.

Jim