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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.

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Blond Pole Dancer


Neighbor Larry built a GoPro camera trap for me, and I finally set it in the woods.

My goal?  Color videos at the water hole at night.

The undertaking has been a challenge.

First, you need sufficient power to charge the power-hungry GoPro Hero2 and external LED arrays. 

Wireless lights would be ideal, but we're not there yet. So, after driving two t-posts into cracks in the bedrock, which happens to be volcanic capstone, I slipped on the pipe extenders, and wired the two arrays at a height of 6+ feet to the camera.

The rig looks like hell, and I knew it would be a standing invitation even to the dumbest bear in the woods.

Of course the inevitable happened.

A blond pole dancer showed up, and her provocative performance disabled the lights.

You've seen her before, if you've visited Camera Trap Codger in the past.

This 2-year female is almost certainly one of the two tiny cubs in the YouTube videos I posted in the spring and summer of 2013.

I think you'll agree, she's a foxy pole dancer. 

8 comments:

HeavenlyJane said...

Wow! What bears really do in the woods.

You must be pleased.

Woody Meristem said...

Neat video; bears are so inquisitive that nothing unusual escapes their attention.

Ben Alexander said...

If there had been a little bit of food on top of that tee-post she would have bent it over and had her snack. I know because I used a tee-post with a ten foot length of PVC pipe slipped over it to keep a bird feeder out of the bears reach. The next morning I found the tee-post bent over 90 degrees with the top laying on the ground. The bird feeders got destroyed - all for a couple of cups of sunflower seeds.

john said...

She's a real babe. I would watch her pole dance anytime.

Unknown said...

I'm not sure if she's a Pole or a Swede...

Unknown said...

I know that you said that your goal was to capture colour video at night--is this footage from the night? Nevertheless, fantastic footage!

Camera Trap Codger said...

Thanks, y'all. I've been lucky with the t-post so far, but I know it's a risky set-up. To make it bear-proof I'd have to get a cement mixer down there to set a 2.5" thick pipe.

No action since then.

No night photos to speak of yet, but I know why the lights failed (electronic safety circuit on the battery).

Yah sure, I've seen a Swede or two that looked her.

Anonymous said...

That bear has talent and could be recruited by Humboldts finest pole dancing club!
Excellent quality video Chris!
Terry