From the Cave

Back in July I posted the first photos from the entrance of a small cave beneath a rock outcrop on a steep sidehill – those photos can be seen here. Now, months later, and including a several week interval without a camera in place, it’s time to post more photos from the cave.

Black bears frequently visited the cave entrance. From the photos it was impossible to determine if more than one bear visited –

One bear even entered the cave, revealed by a photograph that showed a tiny bit of its back behind the fallen branch.

Also frequently visiting the cave entrance were the local gray squirrels that used that fallen branch as a runway and even entered the cave occasionally –

The squirrels had best be alert and wary because bobcats often came by as they hunted along the many rock outcrops on this steep hillside –

There was a break in the time a camera trap was in place because during one of those visits a black bear walked right up to the camera trap –

And bit the steel box containing the camera trap whereupon a tooth punctured the Fresnel lens in front of the sensor –

Fortunately I returned to change the batteries and memory card in the camera before rain had gotten in through the hole and damaged the control board. So I brought the camera trap back to replace the lens and it was several weeks before there was an opportunity to install a replacement.

Bears are the bane of camera trappers – but I still find them irresistible.