Black bears (Ursus americanus) currently range more widely than grizzlies (Ursus arctos) in the lower 48, but where both species roam they are sometimes confused. In a national park where animals are habituated to human viewers, you’re probably more likely … Continue reading →
Only about 10-25% of the black bear’s diet is animal food, which in most regions is in the form of colonial insects and beetles. Recently we captured some great footage of a sow with cubs digging a nest of wasps … Continue reading →
With longer, straighter claws and a larger shoulder hump, grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) are better diggers than black bears, and much more likely to dig for food. So it’s no surprise that roots comprise a greater portion of the … Continue reading →
Because it funnels animal travel, a good water crossing is a great place to camera trap a variety of animal species. A few years ago I wrote about Choosing a Good Bridge for a Trail Camera, where I suggested a … Continue reading →
Black bears engage in various behaviors thought to relate to scent communication. As I’ve discussed before, they mark larger trees by rubbing, biting, and clawing at them, and they mark the ground with their feet by as they walk, sometimes … Continue reading →
Because clear foot prints are rarely present, the ability to recognize other bear sign is very helpful in tracking bears. A black bear marking trail, also called mark trail, stomp trail or ritual trail, is a series of worn ovals … Continue reading →
As you may have guessed, if you follow this blog, I have been traveling out West quite frequently for the past year since the publication of my first book. The reason is that I’m planning to write a western edition … Continue reading →
This video is a composite of captures from a trail camera that was stationed for eight months in a canyon in southeastern Arizona. In it you will see coati, ringtail, hog-nosed skunk, hooded skunk, black bear (including 2 different sets … Continue reading →
Video montage of my favorite trail camera video clips and photos from late 2015 through 2018.
Continue reading →One type of productive spot for a trail camera is a pinch point, a place where landscape features force animal travel through a narrow area. The floor of a narrow, steep-walled canyon, a trail through dense vegetation, and a natural … Continue reading →
