We've done a "trail camera" photo phriday before. Thought I'd double up, it being so interesting. For winter cameras, just above my house, I bait the site with roadkill deer or coyote carcasses. I've now "captured" 20 different species of mammals and birds. Always an interesting endeavor, seeing who shows up! I often have more than 5,000 photos per night.

The ruffed grouse filter by the camera, especially in the fall.



Young-of-the-year red foxes are usually the second-most common users of the bait piles, second only to the ubiquitous magpies.


Mountain lions are fairly regular visitors. They'll drag off the carcassses if they're not wired down.


Coyotes, too, are fairly regular. They are, however, the second-most shy in coming into the food.



Marten are common. They seem to live on the bait piles if they discover one.



Of the birds, golden eagles are also common. Almost as plentiful as the magpies. Lots of interesting interactions between the eagles at the bait.



Wolves are not commonly photographed. They are common in the vicinity, but it takes a while (sometimes 2 weeks) for them to come in to the baits.

Very Cool Thread

Great photos!! I have done this before and is always fun to see what shows up.

Very cool pictures. It always amazes me to see what animals will hit a bait pile and which ones won't.

Great captures, Jack. Always good to know who is around the estate !

What? No artwork,Sharon? Photo Phridays'll never be the same!

LOL Ok, ok ! Thank you kindly .

Here are two of your estate wanderers featured...

Collared coyote was from a study that ended 4 years prior to pic.

One of my favorites

Frankly, checking the SD card is like Christmas morning to me. I can't imagine not having trail cameras deployed.

Jack

Yes sir - that's a superb photo of the fighting deer.

this fox frequents one of my cameras/bait piles. He's been spending more and more time there, which is a shame because I've been planning to target marten there and he will mess with my plans. A lot of the photos/videos are him marking his favorite spot.



this is him this week, he's made several attempts to steal the camera already. He's jumping and trying to catch the strap in mid-air here (the strap was chewed off completely today when I came to retrieve the card)



big chickens visit sometimes


marten are too fast for good pictures, so here's a frame from a video showing how looong the real pine marten (Martes martes) tail is. Sable and American marten have shorter tails, with fewer vertebrae.


bambis are very cautious here and usually just dash across the view field too fast to record anything.


an Asiatic badger... a bit lanky, they get fat in the fall.

Great additions, Tatiana. Thanks. It's fascinating for me seeing the different fauna you have over there.

Jack

These two are a little early to be stemming the rose!

Sharon, that is a lovely muscular Mountain Lion drawing!!!

Thank you, smash ! I like their big paddle bendable feet.

I just noticed....my coyote has an unseen back leg ! LOL WHY did I do that ? I guess I figured that leg wouldn't be noticeable that much ....