Spring In Full Swing !

 

 Spring wildlife activity is really picking up. I heard a few peepers the other day and with the few warm days last week, I’m sure they’ll were in full chorus in many locations. Lost Pond has had the most wildlife activity so far this spring. The bear from last week has made two more visits during the cover of darkness. I was able to distinguish the bear is a male and has recognizable markings. Hopefully he makes a daytime appearance. This area has a good crop of skunk cabbage which should attract additional bears. A wildlife photographer / trail Camera colleague located my trail cameras while bushwhacking in one my new camera trapping areas. He was kind enough to email me and make me aware. The email was very much appreciated. Hadn’t he done that; I would have moved the cameras. Thanks Again Mike!

A second bear has triggered a camera trap set about five miles away. This young bear was extremely inquisitive and a bit rough with a trail camera, I’m glad it was in a metal security box. The coming week is going to be warm and I’m looking forward to seeing (videoing) Sows with cubs.

 

Jim

1st Bear Of The Season

 

Its has been a busy week finishing up setting out camera traps for bears. I made a trip back into Lost Pond to change out one camera that was having issues. When checking the SD card I was surprised to see it had captured the first bear of the season on March 23rd It was a night time pic, so not much more than what I call a evidence capture.

  

In 2021 I started an anecdotal bear study looking to learn more about bear behavior and how they are doing in Massachusetts  . I finished compiling the 2022 data. The two-year study also shares some of the highlights.

Trail Cameras have been deployed again in 2023, It will be interesting to see what this year unfolds Just a note when viewing. Each slide has a ten second  time duration   https://hikingcamerawildlife.smugmug.com/

 

Bushwhacking for antlers yesterday presented a unique moose encounter. A young bull and I met nose to nose. We first spotted each other at about forty yards. Instead of immediately reaching for my phone to take pics. I stood completely still for a few minutes. The moose became inquisitive and started walking towards me.

https://youtu.be/mHv_61Nx-34

Jim

Look For Skunk Cabbage - Spring's First Bears

 

I’ve been busy this week setting camera traps. Skunk cabbage has started to sprout in Massachusetts. This will typically be the first greens a bear will eat. Find a skunk cabbage patch and look for chewed leaves and you have located an ideal spot for a camera trap set. Skunk cabbage can be found in wetlands, where the Spring sun’s rays have warmed the area.

I have a few new locations that camera traps have been set.  I have expanded my trapping area to encompass more bear habitat. More area will hopefully mean more bears. With the anticipation of spring:

1)    When will the first bear trigger a 2023 camera trap. Last year it was March 18th.

2)    Will there be any sows with four cubs?

3)    How many collared study bears will be seen this year?

4)    Will camera traps capture any out of state bears?

5)    Last year was the first year seeing a “Cinnamon Colored Bear” how about this year?

Jim

Closeup, bear bites in skunk cabbage leaf.

This is one plump bear !!!

Video from a few years ago.

Won't Be Long For Massachusetts Bears

 

Snow last Monday in central Massachusetts certainly put a damper on hiking and setting out trail cameras. My town received twenty inches!! It would have been good snowshoeing weather, I didn’t want to chance a worn path directly to my camera traps.

I was able to start setting camera traps for “ Bears “ the last few days. Lost Pond and Scat Swamp are good to go. Its going to be a warm week and I should be able to reach my other bear hot spots.

The fisher scent post continues to be active. The frequency of activity so far has been ten fishers that have triggered the trail camera. Reviewing the footage suggests that three different males and two different females have visited this scent post location in March. I’ll keep tally and will share the results when activity at the post slows down.

The cover picture is a set at Lost Pond. Over the winter, bobcats, coyotes and raccoons crossed that log on a regular basis. I’m hoping bears will also use it.

Ticks are out!!! Be sure to treat your cloths.

 

Jim

Winter Won't Quit

 

January and February winter weather in central Massachusetts was unseasonably warm with very little snow. The last few days of February and March certainly have been winter. Its snowing now with several inches of wet snow forecasted and this coming Tuesday we could get another eight inches. Tomorrow may be a good day for tracking. It would ne nice to locate another fisher scent mound in a different area.

Another check this week on the active fisher scent mound the camera trap videoed a second male and a female. Watch for the size comparison between the male and female fisher. https://youtu.be/ckRI3THUeis

This week I reached the 5000 mile-milestone hiking Quabbin in north central Massachusetts. The quest has given me an opportunity to see and photograph wildlife at its best and worst. I’ve put this adventure into a Power Point presentation. I have two scheduled speaking engagements this fall. I’ll share the dates and times later.

I located what appears to be a bear den dug under a log. There was no bear in it, I’m not sure it was used this year. It will be on my radar for next fall.

Jim

 

It’s been a very good week tracking wildlife in central Massachusetts.  I located several fisher tracks this week. Early in the week I followed this fisher track as it winded its way across a vernal pool then through a mature hemlock stand. Just before entering the hemlocks the fisher urinated at the base of a white pine. My hope was to locate a scent post. Following the tracks had me pumped with anticipation of what might unfold that morning. This fisher slid on it belly as it started down a steep ridge. Much like an otter, but only slid the length of its body as it rubbed on the few inches of fresh snow. Reaching the top of the ridge I stopped to catch my breath. There on a raised area sat an old stump where you could see fisher tracks and visible rubbing on a rotten log along with two deposits of scat. This was my best fisher scent post find yet. I set out two camera traps and pinned the location. Now the wait. I returned to this location two days later to swap out trail cameras. The cover photo is a pic grab from the attached Youtube Video

Jim

https://youtu.be/04VLwyc6YUY

Finally , Winter in Massachusetts !

 

Finally a dose of real winter. Last Thursday central Massachusetts received about an inch of wet snow, then an ice covering. very poor snow for tracking. I did head out for a late morning hike that day only to find a few deer tracks. A few weeks back I did find a bear track in a patch of snow. Weatherman reporting possible snow storm next week. If so, possibly an opportunity to snowshoe. I’ll need to watch and see how many inches this storm may leave. I have a number of camera taps set close to the ground and will need to raise or pull them in before the storm.

My Quabbin hiking quest is nearing completion. I have about forty five miles to go before reaching 5.000 total miles hiked in this area. Once I reach that 5k mile goal, I’ll focus more on sitting watching for wildlife with my camera

Jim