Sneak Peak - Scat Swamp

 

Here’s a sneak peak of one of two new beaver swamps I located last month. The mild Massachusetts winter (so far) has given me opportunity to check these areas out thoroughly. Scat Swamp has an active beaver whom has given me the tail slap on several occasions. I set out several camera traps and over a two week period of time have videoed a bobcat, two coyotes, beaver and several deer. This swamp is less than an acre and loaded with wildlife sign. I’m looking forward to spring and seeing what bears use this area.

The second beaver pond I located last month (Lost Pond) has been productive. Cameras have captured the same variety of wildlife as Scat Swamp. This swamp looks it might be an ideal place for moose feeding on spring water lilies. This pond is very remote and not accessible without bushwhacking.

In another area two winter camera traps were set out late November hoping to capture moose in the snow browsing. They have captured two young bulls as of this week. I was hoping to video them in snow and during daylight. The hard part was trying to determine where the moose might browse during the winter months. There’s still plenty of winter left. Hopefully they use the area again.

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 Jim

 

Persistence pays off!

 I continue searching new areas looking for trail camera locations. A second “Gem” was located this week. It’s secluded but not all that remote. No trails or roads access the area. There was plenty of scat from deer, moose, BEAR and one raccoon. What’s unique about this spot is the small land area in the middle of the beaver dam with swamp all around it. I guess technically it could be call it an extremely SMALL island. (20 x 20 yards square) It will be an ideal spot to setup several camera traps this spring. I did set one camera to see what winter wildlife activity might be around. Once the small pond is frozen most animals will cross the ice.   There was moose, bear and raccoon scat on the island. Finding the numerous bear scat deposits of different sizes in the area suggests maybe a sow with cubs. The moose scat was also promising. You could see were the moose have been browsing on hemlock sapling branches.

Jim

3 Bobcats !

 

What a surprise I got with checking trail cameras yesterday. Three bobcats! A mom and two kittens. The kittens are nearly full grown. Over the summer and early fall my camera traps captured this family several times. The kittens will typically stay with their mom up to a year. The beaver lodges is active, it will be interesting to see if the trio visits the lodge again during the winter

Snowing pretty go here (central Massachusetts) now. Hoping we get two or three inches of snow. This will make ideal tracking conditions for tomorrow morning. My backpacked is ready to go and fingers crossed it keeps snowing.

Jim

Winter Scouting

 

This past week I’ve been out “Beating the Brush” looking for fisher tracks in the snow, deer sheds and new places to set camera traps. I finally located a fisher track on a dusting of snow on the ice. That didn’t provide much opportunity to do any tracking. The most important find was a secluded beaver pond. There are no trails or roads to this location. I guess the only folks that might happenstance onto this spot is a hunter or forager.  It’s certainly remote and an ideal location to set a number of camera traps. There is one lodge with fresh beaver chews in the area. I set two camera traps for the winter. Scouting the area showed signs of moose, deer, coyotes, fisher and porcupine. I’m hoping bears & moose use the area. Time will tell.

Jim

Trail Camera Flashback

 

18 Year Flashback!

 Recently I stumbled across an old trail camera photo album.

Oh how trail camera technology has changed. My first experiences “Camera Trapping “started nearly two decades ago. Back then trail cameras used C or D batteries and film. Changing out the film cartridges was a challenge, especially when the slotted film edges didn’t catch on the thumb gear in the camera. The exiting part then (and now) was driving out on Saturday mornings to change the film cartridges ,then driving  straight to the local pharmacy (waiting an hour) to have the film processed through the expedited “ One Hour  Film Developing Service “  

Camera Trapping a bobcat and fisher were highlights back then. Roadkill beaver and deer were used as attractants. The moose, coyote and bear were also first captures.  Over the years trail camera technology and learning wildlife behavior has helped to make camera trapping a passion for me.

Jim

Winter Is Here !

 

Central Massachusetts received 2” of fluffy snow last Sunday night which made for ideal tracking conditions. I got in fifteen miles over four days looking for animal tracks. My hope was to cross a fisher track, follow it, looking for scent mounds and then set out a trail camera(s). I was rather surprised I didn’t find one. My efforts were in areas that I’ve seen fishers or my camera traps have caught them on video. This makes for a good winter project. I’ll keep you updated with my progress.

The cover picture is a bank beaver lodge with a cache of tree limbs in the water at the lodge opening. It will be interesting to see what wildlife visits this location over the winter. A beautiful bull moose is the first to stroll by.

Jim

Looking For New Areas !

 

It’s been a good week! I hiked back into the new area I shared with you last week. Two camera traps were set, one on the dam and the other on the east end of the pond. There is a steep hardwood ridge with a worn game trail coming down to the pond. Moose have been browsing along the trail. Hopefully a big bull uses it during the day.

I checked out another area with a outcrop of boulders sitting high up on a ridge. Lots of effort reach this area. From the bottom looking up there appeared to be some small openings in the rocks. I was thinking this would be an ideal spot for bobcats. When I reached the top there was a nice view but unfortunately the openings weren’t very deep and there was no animal sign to be found. Not even a porcupine.

The cover pic is the last buck crossing this particular beaver dam. Not a monster but certainly a nice pic.

Jim