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Native Californian, biologist, wildlife conservation consultant, retired Smithsonian scientist, father of two daughters, grandfather of 4 small primates. INTJ. Believes nature is infinitely more interesting than shopping malls. Born 100 years too late.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Marten at dawn



Day was breaking when the marten caught a faint but familiar scent of squirrel and followed its nose to a old fallen red fir.



That's where it discovered the camera trap that periodically flashed in the dim light.


















But the camera didn't detract it from its goal.




It soon discovered that the squirrel was deep beneath a huge splinter of sap wood. 









It squeezed down into the gap and seized the prize.




A week later a large male marten crossed the log.

Perhaps the scent of squirrel and marten still lingered.



12 comments:

christian said...

Yes! Great captures, so glad we got something up at that spot.

Bay Laurel said...

Awesome series of images!

Owlman said...

Outstanding photoss! You guys are good.

BLD in MT said...

What an awesome group of photographs.

Mr. Smiley said...

You're going Great Guns. What's next?

Anonymous said...

WOW!!!!

JoEllen

Sebastian Kennerknecht said...

It was awesome seeing the actual set-up spot and then seeing the Marten pictures. Really amazing set Codg!

Trailblazer said...

Just incredible! I'm speechless!

dr_fiehlgood said...

Great shots of martens! It doesn't get better than that.

Chas S. Clifton said...

Very impressive. You had just staked out the log in the hope that someone would come along?

Camera Trap Codger said...

Thanks all, and as for Chas's question, I knew that there were martens there, having cam-trapped one at a boulder set down the hill 3 years ago. But I dodn;t know what to expect other than the ususal suspects, such as gray fox, bear, and bobcat.

JK said...

Only a mustelid was going to be able to get that squirrel haunch out of the log as deep as you had jammed it in there. Fantastic shots. I am glad we did not walk any further up that hill.