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This blog is predominately about camera trapping in California. We camera trap to save our souls and to teach primary school students about biology and conservation. We will also touch on other camera trapping news and musings, sets from afar, mediocre herpetology, sucky birding, and other natural history discussions.

Monday, February 28, 2011

Javan Rhino Caught on Cam

Javan Rhinos were caught on camera trap.  One female was not pleased. Follow the link for video.
The rhinos have appeared twice on cameras one month after the devices were installed in the Ujung Kulon National Park in the westernmost region of Java island, with one rhino mother charging a camera and damaging it.
"With fewer than 60 Javan rhinos left in the wild, we believe this footage was well worth the risk to our equipment," said Adhi Rachmat Hariyadi, who leads WWF-Indonesia's project in the national park.
Maybe they need some bear boxes for them.

UPDATE: Just realized this is 2+ year old footage.  Still cool and new to me, but not new.  Maybe some newer photos and information in this HuffPo article.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Bobcats on the High Plateau

The camera on the High Plateau was running out of batteries.  As the batteries got really low the picture quality went down with them, but just before it completely died we got a bobcat walking across the set.

On the hunt

Thirty minutes later it came back by the camera.  One less brush rabbit on the High Plateau.  Interestingly this is the only brush rabbit picture we got during daylight hours.  Maybe they knew what they were doing only showing themselves after dark.

Success!

I did not get a chance to look at this set in the field like I usually do.  I grabbed the camera, jumped in the car and headed out to Arnold, CA to meet Christian and some other folks at a cabin we had for the weekend.  Everyone made fun of us for being such nerds as we cracked open a beer and huddled around the computer with the anticipation of a child on Christmas morning to see what images we got.  When the second picture came on the screen, there was whooping and hollering and maybe a little victory dance as the other cabin mates wondered what the heck they just got themselves into.  "Do we really have to be stuck in a cabin with these two all weekend?"

We reset the camera with fresh batteries at the same spot a couple of weeks later and picked it up last week.  No additional predation shots but some higher quality images to share soon.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Skunk Butt

I forgot to post the only skunk photo we have gotten so far in Santa Cruz before I moved on to SET004 with the bush bunny post.  Not really the best glamor shot ... or a definite glamor shot depending on your point of view.

So here is a sexy Mephitis mephitis butt from SET003.


FYI ... Most Santa Cruz posts are tagged with the set number (ie. SET003) in case you are interested in all posts from a particular set.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Trail of Plenty

The video cam at the Marin reserve continues to deliver interesting captures.


Coyote goes in for the deep rub (1.1.11)


Bobcat dance (1.15.11) *


Gray Fox quick stop (1.16.11)


* A favorite among my students

Friday, February 11, 2011

Cougar

What is better than getting a cougar on your camera trap?

This