The North American badger, Taxidea taxus, is an extremely effective and efficient digger. It uses this talent to hunt burrowing rodents and to excavate burrows for its own shelter. Sometimes hunting and home building are one and the same: After … Continue reading →
The elk, Cervus canadensis (formerly Cervus elaphus canadensis), is one of the largest members of the deer family. Its tracks and sign are similar to those of deer, but think larger hooves, longer strides, larger scat pellets, and look for … Continue reading →
The “rufus” in the bobcat’s scientific name, Lynx rufus, is Latin for red, but most populations are grayer in winter and more reddish in summer. What accounts for these differences in bobcat coat color? Probably the advantage of camouflage: those … Continue reading →
Video montage of my favorite trail camera video clips and photos from late 2015 through 2018.
Continue reading →As large, common reptiles, alligators create abundant and rather obvious sign where they range in the southeastern US. So the challenge is in recognizing their spoor rather than in finding it. In this post, a sequel to Alligator Tracks and … Continue reading →
Once on the brink of extinction, the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis is now common within its range in the southeastern US. In fact, it’s abundant in some areas and I got to see this firsthand while exploring the cypress swamps … Continue reading →
Many galliform birds (heavy bodied, ground feeding, chicken like birds) “strut” as part of their territorial and courtship rituals. Perhaps the wild turkey and the pea fowl, with their large, fanned tails, are the most familiar strutters, but ruffed grouse … Continue reading →
While otters are reputed to be playful, I’ve had the pleasure of observing wild river otters playing only twice. The first was in person at Yellowstone National Park in late September, as a pair of otters wrestled while another relaxed … Continue reading →
This year, a family of American robins nesting in our pergola provided a great opportunity for me to capture the entire process with a trail camera. I noticed the nest one day while tending to my garden and quickly mounted … Continue reading →
The North American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, is thought to be generally solitary except for brief mating associations in autumn and mother-baby pairs in spring and summer. However, I believe I have some video footage of porcupines playing together in winter. … Continue reading →
