Late July Bear Activity

 

Last weekend you couldn’t ask for better hiking weather. Each morning the temps started off in the low fifties. The cool weather kept the deer flies at bay for the first few hours.

 I was off to swap out SD cards in several trail cameras that haven’t been changed in a month or so. When reaching the first camera trap I knew a bear had been in the area. The camera was spun on the tree and now facing down. Fortunately the plastic strap holders weren’t broken. I have a few older trail cameras that don’t have metal security boxes. On that note, if your camera trapping in bear country I strongly suggest spending the extra money on a metal case.

The second trail camera is setup a short distance away and does have a metal case. Three bears were in the area late July and all three checked that trail camera out.

Still no sow with cubs captured on video last week.

It will be interesting to see what this weekend’s SD cards have on them

 

Jim

Very Wet July In MA

 

I had many wet hikes this month requiring rain gear. Many locations in central Massachusetts had record rainfall for the month of July. 

I wonder if this may slowing down  activity on beaver dams . Its been weeks since capturing sows with cubs crossing beaver dams. Beaver ponds are high with fast moving water spilling over the dams.

With beaver pond water level high, water is reaching abandoned bank beaver lodges. The lodge pictured above hasn't been used in nearly a decade. I was quite surprised to see activity with new sticks stacked on top of the lodge. While investigating this welcomed find a beaver kept a close eye on what I was doing and slapped its tail on the water waring all around that an intruder was in the area,

As you can see in the picture, what a perfect place to set a camera trap. Hopefully rebuild activity continues and some interesting video comes of it.

Jim

Time To Start Changing Things Up

 

Well, finally some nice weather coming to central Massachusetts. The next few days forecast is mid to upper seventies and dry! A welcomed break from the heat humidity and RAIN.

 My camera trapping captures have really slowed down in July, especially bear activity. I’m sure the heat and bear mating season winding down are impacting this.

The plan this weekend is to pull my trail cameras from one swamp and start setting them in new areas that were scouted out last winter for moose.

Last year one of my camera trap sets videoed a beautiful bull with a large set of antlers. Unfortunately it was at a distance, I’m hoping that bull’s home range overlaps this new area

Jim

Bear Stomping

 

Bears leave their calling card “scent” in a number of different ways. I was fortunate moving a trail camera only a few feet to catch this bear using two methods to leave its scent. The first is obvious with the bear rubbing its backside against the tree. Did you pick up on the second method? It’s called stomping. The bear will walk and almost appear to be marching pushing its legs down and turning its feet which also leaves scent.

Jim

Moose Feeding In Ponds

 

Its the ideal time to sit and watch small beaver ponds and to setup a trail camera to watch lilies. This respectable Massachusetts bull was captured on video ( pic video grab). 

The picture above is a camera trap set that videoed the moose in the first picture. It takes time and effort and usually wet feet to make a set like this. 

Last week when checking this set there were three bucks feeding on the shoreline about one  hundred yards away, An awesome sight to see. I camouflaged myself against a white pine and watched the trio feed in the direction of the trail camera. All three bucks had antlers with one supporting a very large rack. It was exciting watching them in close proximity of the camera. I thought for sure I had some impressive whitetail footage. Unfortunately the deer fed just outside the field of view on the camera. 

Jim

Trail Camera First

 

Pretty “ Sticky”  hiking yesterday morning , seventy three degrees with ninety percent humidity. It didn’t long before becoming soaked. I did manage to make it six miles checking SD cards. One trail camera captured a first, a bald eagle landed on the beaver dam positioning itself perfectly for the trail camera,

Deer flies are out in full force. If you’re considering a Massachusetts hike, a head net is advisable for sure.

Jim

 

I never realized beaver dams have a role in a deer’s feeding pattern. Setting camera traps on beaver dams the last several years has shown that deer constantly visit dams to feed. It appears they feed on lily stems. One day last week while checking camera traps I saw a very large buck out on a beaver dam midmorning, pulling vegetation from beneath the water’s surface. The doe above is a snag from a video. There is not a week that goes by that several deer aren’t on this dam feeding.

Jim