Thursday, May 23, 2013

Cub See, Cub Do

Brownie approaches a cam on a deer trail.
The white upper edge is spider web on the
spikes of the camera's bear guard.

Brownie is interested in cameras. Deconstructing cameras.

She took out four cams in the past month.



Here she perched on a log and peered at the mysterious source of wonderment before starting work.



She sniffed at it, tried to mouth it, and managed to dislodge it even though it was equipped with a spiked bear guard.

When she was finished the camera was 30 feet away.

It took ten minutes to find it, and I was one worried and sweaty codger in the interim.

The pictures told the same old story: bear finds camera, bear examines camera, etc.

Brownie seemed to be a lone agent.

But yesterday I collected the card from another camera (the "ringtail cam"), and discovered that Brownie has two apprentices.  

The clips could be better, but you can still see that one of the understudies is learning the trade well.




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13 comments:

  1. Chas S. CliftonMay 23, 2013 at 9:28 PM

    The cub not only pushed the camera but also changed the settings to switch it to B&W?

    Must be un ours noir, because it prefers film noir.

    What's next, "Only my right profile, please, it's the better one"?

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  2. joellenarnoldMay 23, 2013 at 11:39 PM

    Wonderful post! That was a perfect camera placement until jr. messed with it...

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  3. Alyssa JohnsonMay 24, 2013 at 5:42 AM

    What beautiful animals and great footage! So the cubs are cinnamon right? What is the genetic formula that gives a cinnamon mom 2 cinnamon babies?

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  4. biobabblerMay 24, 2013 at 7:25 AM

    1. What a FABULOUS way to start the day. Whenever I see bear cubs in person, I'm never this relaxed ('cause of the bear Mom factor), so this was DELIGHTFUL!!

    2. Brownie is a GENIUS name for her. =)

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  5. johnMay 24, 2013 at 6:41 PM

    A friend of mine has problems with bears tearing up his remote cabin. His solution involves various strategically placed receptacles, (doors, windows) that contain ammonia. The bear takes a bite, only once. Then the bear avoids the cabin thereafter. Could a similar stink bomb be used to protect your cameras?

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  6. randomtruthMay 24, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    Ah yes - bears. Often terrors to cameras, but also great subjects. Well captured Codge. (a retypo)

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  7. Camera Trap CodgerMay 24, 2013 at 7:50 PM

    Thanks folks. The camera dismantling problem was my fault; I took a chance and used a light weight camera mount. The ammonia deterrent probably works with cameras and garbage cans most (or much) of the time, unless the drive to explore or eat outweighs the repellent effect of the ammonia. I was sold on it as a deterrent to garbage can bears until last fall. If the trash smells good enough even a good dose of ammonia won't work.

    Chas, that switch to b&w is a quirk of the Bushnell Trophys -- at least the older models. But I won't rule out the possibility that an ursid enfant terrible switched it.

    RT, yes, part of their charm is their destructiveness.

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  8. northierthanthouMay 25, 2013 at 10:09 AM

    Very cool images.

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  9. Camera Trap CodgerMay 26, 2013 at 9:38 AM

    Alyssa,

    Here's a bit on coat color, but it doesn't really answer your question.

    http://cameratrapcodger.blogspot.com/2008/09/visitors-of-great-pool-part-1.html

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  10. Alyssa JohnsonMay 28, 2013 at 10:19 AM

    Interesting, thanks!

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  11. LeslieJune 2, 2013 at 2:34 PM

    Do you wipe your camera? I lost a camera to a grizzly and now I routinely use wipes to hide my scent as much as possible.

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  12. AnonymousJune 3, 2013 at 11:21 AM

    Hey Codger
    Just returned from Zion and Bryce and found your Bear post.
    Excellent footage.
    Terry

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  13. AnonymousJune 27, 2013 at 9:41 PM

    The pictures of the bear are great shots. Trail Cameras provide a unique opportunity to see animals in nature.

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