Cascadia Wildlife Blog
News from the Wolverine Tracking Project and more
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Hello Cascadia Wild Winter Volunteers, Another great week of camera trips! Volunteers visited McCubbins #1 and #2, Government Camp East, Hazel Hollow #1 and #2, and Little Zig Zag. Wildlife Camera FindingsA group of 6 deer passing by McCubbins #2  One of many bobcat sightings at McCubbins #2  A coyote in the distance at Hazel Hollow #2  A marten circles the bait at Little Zig Zag
Little Zig Zag was frequented by a red fox over the past few weeks. This is another interesting example of these animals using high elevation forest areas regularly.    Winter is in full swing and we love seeing all of the beautiful photos and tracking trip updates each week. Check out GoogleDocs to see all of the full sets from each camera.
Best, Cascadia Wild
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Wildlife Camera FindingsA marten spent some time at Glade immediately after set-up.
We have seen a lot of bobcats on multiple cameras lately. This is unsurprising, considering the countless squirrel and hare photos we receive each week! This individual at Yellowjacket East hung around for a while, leaving the camera and returning only a half hour later. The last shot of the bobcat leaving the area shows great detail of its tail and hind feet!
McCubbins #2 was also visited by a bobcat multiple times.
Deer and coyote at McCubbins #2 (not to mention all the squirrels!)
And finally, again at McCubbins #2...    That's a first! While it's true that the camera is near a water source, this is the first time we have ever seen a RIVER OTTER on our cameras before! Here are the full photos for scale:    As you can see, this otter was out and about at nine in the morning, which corresponds with their likelihood to be more active during the day in the winter (and more active at night in the summer.) Although otters spend the majority of their time in the water, they will travel considerable distances when relocating from one body of water to another. We are thrilled to have added another species to our list of animals! Every week we learn more about Mt. Hood wildlife. Also, don't forget to check out GoogleDocs to see all of the full sets from each camera.
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Bear (above)
Bobcat (below) near Tilly Jane
Bobcat (below) near Tilly Jane
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Devil's Half Acre came back with a mystery after their trip this weekend. Was it a squirrel? A weasel? A squeasel!?
While it is difficult to tell, it is possible that these tracks were left by a weasel. It is a jumping pattern of two prints together, with a large stride and a narrow trail width. With squirrels, one would expect to see a bit wider trail width (picture the way their hind legs come around the outside of the front legs when they hop). However, with weasels one would expect to see one foot slightly in front of the other in the pair, which is not apparent in the photo. What do you think?
The trip to White River enjoyed incredible scenery and took some breathtaking photos despite the lack of carnivore tracks left for them to find.
WILDLIFE CAMERA FINDINGS
A red fox visited the Glade camera! We unexpectedly got a photo of a fox near this location last year. Originally it was thought that the foxes mostly used the alpine-forest interface, but these photos continue to show that they are using high elevation forest areas regularly as well.
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A rabbit also visited Glade only once during the set, but spent long enough that we could get quite a few clear photos of it.
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Meadows was visited by a marten:
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A mouse and a bushy tailed woodrat take turns at the bait at Bear Springs Far...
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Until a weasel shows up and claims it for itself (perhaps with a few challenges from the mouse!) The weasel visited day and night for the duration of the set.
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Additionally at Bear Springs Far, some coyote tracks were found in the area from an individual who came very close but didn't approach the camera close enough for photos.
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THANK YOU to all of our supporters!
 | Do you enjoy these pictures, and your citizen science work in the snow? The best way to say thank you is to pay it forward with your year-end gift or membership today! An anonymous supporter will make an additional donation for every gift or membership of $50 or more received in December, and will double it if we reach our goal! Please give by December 31. Please make a year end gift or become a member today. Help us reach our goal and keep these programs going in 2019! |
