Fisher Tracking - Unique Camera Trapping Set

 

The inch of snow Massachusetts received  earlier in the week was just enough to provide decent tracking conditions. That along with locating a fisher track early on made for an eventful few mornings tracking  I was able to follow the fisher tracks just over four miles and was never more than a half mile from my starting point. The fisher trail wound through hemlock swamps and places that had downed trees. https://youtu.be/zZJLl9iaEBw

 

Finding this unique location in 2018 and setting up a trail camera has produced incredible videos over the years. The first few years had special tenants before a porcupine moved in. Then after that, bobcats visit the den monthly during the colder weather. https://youtu.be/Z_2VpIfXRc8

Massachusetts – Worcester County

Jim

Bobcat Food Cache

 

Following a fisher track in the snow led me to a food cache where a partial opossum lay under a pile of leaves. While investigating , no blood was visible on the  blanket of snow, just drag marks from the dispatch site to the base of large diameter tree. Speculation on my part. Fisher dispatched the opossum, dragged it to the base of the tree, then went tree bound with it. Once in the tree , started to eat it with pieces falling to the ground. Then the bobcat found the pieces that fell and made the food cache. The bobcat was concerned with something in the tree constantly looking up. In the end neither the bobcat nor the fisher claimed the last of the food cache. The video shows the culprit.

Jim

How Big Do Massachusetts Bears Get - Beaver Lodges and Trail Cameras

 

It was a beautiful morning to be out scouting Spring prospects for camera trapping locations. It has been years since setting any trail cameras in this area, the    “ SAFE” ice provided opportunity to really scout the back of the swamp. Beavers are still using the pond and have built a bank lodge in an ideal location to set camera traps. I will explain  in the video. https://youtu.be/lnKFxVMD1z0

This time of year, safe ice conditions give opportunity to get into swampy areas that are typically a challenge to reach any other time of year. I will use the ice to scout other locations next week.

Thank You all that attended my bear presentation at the Rutland MA  library yesterday. There was a good turnout with an interactive audience asking lots of  good questions. The video clip  “ How Big Do Massachusetts Bears Get” sparked interest in guessing bears’ weight. Hard to believe bears get that big in MA. https://youtu.be/sMlfKn1U59A

 

Jim

Fishers - Good Tracking

 

Last week I had a couple of eventful tracking days following a male fisher. In the fishers travel he checked out a pervious years scent post that has a trail camera monitoring. I stopped following the track after it led me to a food cache. A neat find for sure ! I’m not convinced the fisher made the cache which had only the head of an opossum buried in it. I set a trail camera to see what animal returns .

Late last week I was able to check all my winter trail camera sets replacing batteries as needed, I don’t check them as often in the winter, concerned with leaving my tracks.

An early January bear checked out a den site that one of my trail cameras has been monitoring for thee years. It went inside the den tree , checked it out and moved on.

Jim

Black Bear Presentation Jan 2025

 

Taking trail cameras to the next level learning about Massachusetts Black Bears. Now that I can find bear sign has offered me opportunity to set camera traps and see more into a black bears world. In this presentation I will share the interesting things I’ve learned about Massachusetts Bears

Jim

Black Bear Whammy Tree

 

 Bear Whammy Tree –  Yes , there is such a thing  as a bear whammy tree! Seeing my first whammy tree ( in video ) was a real surprise and eye opener. The tree was literally  beaten up I had two questions after seeing this. What  happened to the tree and why? What happened is shown in the video,  and why.? A “ Bear Whammy Tree” is another means for bears to use  trees communicating their presence in an area. A whammy tree is  visual sign along with  scent marking . Whammy trees are made anytime of the year. I have several other videos that time stamp this activity  in July and  September.

 

Summary – Camera Trapping has helped me learn  about bear behavior and  the three types of bear marking trees used to communicate. Over the last few months, I have found more bear marking trees. It will be interesting to see what’s instore for 2025 learning more about Massachusetts Black Bears

 

Jim

Video 1 – Bear Bite Tree  https://youtu.be/JyxLAjBSKiw

Video 2 – Bear Scent Marking Tree  https://youtu.be/97Mp_MBfiUo

Video 3 – Bear Whammy Tree  https://youtu.be/hNFnAfmVtt8

 

Bear Scent Marking Tree - Massachusetts

 

Video 2 -This  Black  Bear Scent marking tree with ritual trail passing at its base are good examples showing  different black bear age groups that use the same marking tree throughout the year. The camera trap watching this tree was triggered forty-two times in 2024. The compilation shows  a good age mix of bears  scent marking  on the same tree. Most visits occurred between May and August. Bears will scent mark all year long with the highest activity  typically during the mating season.

This is the second of three videos sharing my experiences learning about “ Bear Marking Trees” in Massachusetts

I’ll share the third video next week

Massachusetts. Browning Elite HP4

https://youtu.be/97Mp_MBfiUo

Jim