Just below the rim of the Allegheny Plateau is a small cave where one of my camera traps has been located for five years. The spot has provided many videos of wildlife, especially bobcats –
Recently I planned to change the camera’s memory card and headed through the woods to accomplish that task. Although the card had fewer videos than earlier in the year, here are the videos the camera acquired in March, April and May –
Unfortunately, as I walked to the camera’s location it became quite apparent that the deer trail that I’d always walked to check the camera was about to be converted to a trail for humans – hikers, runners, skiers and mountain bikers. That trail is less than 200 feet from the cave, although neither the cave nor the camera are visible from the trail. Research has shown that many species of wildlife limit their use of areas that are within 500 feet of a heavily used trail.
So it was time to bring the camera back and abandon the site – the camera might be found and taken, but if wildlife abandoned the cave there would be no point in leaving it there anyway.
Fifty years ago I was a proponent of hiking and skiing trails. However times have changed as more and more people spend time in the woods, not to see and enjoy what’s there but to exercise or use the latest technological gadget – but that’s a rant for another post at another time.
That's too bad, but some nice video clips.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteIt is a shame you had to remove your camera. The trail will be busy with all the humans. Love the video, the Bobcat is a favorite. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.
I hope the people that use the trail will appreciate the chance to see and be a part of nature. Some of the trails I hike are used by people that exercise but I've found some that are appreciated for the natural beauty. I live in a heavily populated area but not many people take advantage of the 'out of the way' trails. I wish more people would enjoy the great outdoors but in another way, I'm glad they are still left to the critters!
ReplyDeleteLove watching your videos, Woody. Especially like the skunk and porky giving themselves a shake in this one....Agreed on the "humans"!!
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