Showing posts with label deer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label deer. Show all posts

Thursday, July 14, 2011

New Growth


This camera has been in the Fish Lake area for the last month and I braved the deer flies to see what was on the card. Only a couple deer and a work crew came by during that time. I am always amazed at the number of people who pass by such out of the way and inhospitable locations.
Dale

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Grettum Pines Cafe


I came across the remains of this deer while exploring the Grettum Pines area. As I was following a trail there suddenly was a profusion of tracks. Looking ahead the deer ribs immediately caught my attention. The recent snow had obscured the details of the myriad of tracks leading to it making species identification impossible. Once at the site the overlap from multiple species further complicated track identification. A fox or coyote had bedded down to keep watch on the carcass. The absence of the skull and distance of the skeleton from the entrails may be meaningful to a trained biologist, however, to me these details raise intriguing questions but no answers. Square patches of fur are pulled off to the side in multiple directions where something has been chewing. It is tempting to assume this is a wolf kill but other predators also kill deer or perhaps this is a winter kill. Clearly the deer is feeding many hungry customers.
Dale

I checked the bone marrow with Steve Hoffman and this animal was malnourished but not starving at the time of death therefore it was a predator kill. Since the skeleton is relatively intact it was not killed by wolves. The remaining possible predators are a bobcat, bear, or coyotes. It seems to remote for a dog kill.
Dale

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!


We share a number of traits with animals, fortunately most of the shared traits are not a requirement for our survival. I am sure this deer could smell something that reminded it of food and was not just curious about the little box on the tree. Over the years our curiosity can be blunted or even lie dormant. On the other hand it can be a trait the makes the world alive each day. May your curiosity be rekindled in 2011.
Dale

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Wolves and Deer




I have been watching this doe and 2 fawns for the last six months on a trail cam positioned at a wolf scent marking location. On multiple occasions the deer and wolves pass the camera within hours of each other. A red fox has also had the audacity to leave its mark at the scent post, a very brave guy given wolves known antagonism toward foxes. Because of the recent freezing rain the camera was covered in ice and had to be pulled for a few days. Wolves are now patrolling the roads and two were seen this week on Hickerson Rd. on Fish Lake Wildlife Area.

With the onset of winter and conclusion of hunting season I hope to place cameras at various locations with the goal of getting new species such as a bobcat and better fisher images (if only they would hold still).
Dale