Winter Weekly 2/22/19

We had camera checks at Government Camp East, Meadows, Yellowjacket West, and Alpine. We've also had two tracking trips since our last update, including a trip leader day.

Tracking Trip Updates

Trip leaders spend a beautiful day together looking at snowshoe hare and squirrel tracks, then on their way back when the day was almost over - they saw fresh bobcat tracks!  Over the next few photos, notice the trapezoid-shaped heel pad and lack of claw marks in the bobcat tracks and its neat, consistent direct register walk.

Are you intersted in becoming a trip leader? Participating in Cascadia Wild trainings and tracking trips is a great place to start learning the skills. As a leader, not only do you build experience participating with nature in a more intimate way, you get to share that experience with others! (Not to mention the trip leader tracking trips!)

The tracking trip to Snowbunny found hare, mouse, and multiple bobcat trails and brought back some wonderful photos. ​

Wildlife Camera Findings

We had lots of naughty visitors in our photos this week! Okay... maybe "opportunistic" is a better word. The bait at Alpine made it about two days into the set. ​

before...

...and after!

The bait at Government Camp East made it a bit longer than Alpine, lasting for two weeks. This coyote posed for so many beautiful photos, we suppose we can forgive her. ​

With two hours of work, perhaps she earned it...
​

Meadows was not spared... Another thief! And so casual about it, too! ​

Let's not forget that we had plenty of well behaved visitors, too. This bobcat at Governmetn Camp East is barely visible and was only around long enough for this single photo. 

Another marten leaving perfect tracks at Meadows. It visited multiple times. 

A coyote at Government Camp East. (Alright, this is probably the same one from earlier. But she's on good behavior this time!)