Summer changes

The early summer heat has begun to impact the environment. Although the creek that is adjacent to my favorite trail has dried up, there is another water source nearby that wildlife can easily access. A spring at the base of the trail consistently produces fresh, clear water. And, there still is an abundance of vegetation—food for the deer and resident rodents who in turn attract predators. It may be a different story later in the summer when the vegetation dies off.

Baby animals on the trail

Spring brought with it new life. Many youngsters, such as these skunk kits, are now old enough to accompany their mums on the trail. Although I love being entertained by them, I’m grateful that I can watch them on a computer monitor.

Our wildlife cameras have been fortunate to film deer families, including newborns, fawns and yearlings. It’s delightful to watch these youngsters bopping up the trail.

The deer are plentiful—the majority of wildlife our cameras are filming this month is deer. Camera #2 filmed these three bucks. Note the velvet on their antlers. I am assuming that they are bros.

Deer on the trail. Photo by Marilyn Krieger, CCBC

Wildlife adjusts to people

People are impacting the wildlife on the trails. Wild animals, including mountain lions and bobcats will go out of their ways to not cross paths with people. They adjust their schedules and routes in order to avoid chance encounters. It’s rare to catch glimpses of felines during the day around well hiked trails—they wait until late at night and before dawn to venture out, those times when humans are usually asleep.

Pumas adjust their schedules in order to avoid people. Photo by Marilyn Krieger, CCBC

With the days becoming warm and long, camera #4 is filming a pattern. It is capturing videos of people traipsing the path at all hours of the day, including late at night and before dawn, those times when mountain lions and bobcats are the most likely to take advantage of it.  Although there may be other factors involved, such as seasonal cycles, animals appear to be shying away from the trail as it increases in popularity with people. Recently, we’ve only filmed a couple of bobcats late at night and no lions. I suspect that I won’t see the lions again until the fall or winter—I hope I’m wrong. Check out the time stamp on this video.

Daytime activity

The trail joins with another wildlife byway that meanders through a deep canyon until it reaches Crystal Springs Reservoir. This is a protected area with two man-made lakes—the west side is wild and virtually people-free. Only rangers and the few lucky Felidae volunteers, who maintain trail cameras, occasionally venture to the west side of the lakes. Because wildlife rarely encounters humans in that protected area, they don’t need to limit their activities to late at night. These playful mountain lion youngsters and their mum were filmed at around 5:00 PM about one month ago.

Puma cubs playing during the day. Photo courtesy of Felidae Conservation Fund

Dusky-footed woodrats

This article wouldn’t be complete without checking in on the busy little woodrats. I found out this morning that these little guys are dusky-footed woodrats. Although it’s not clear how they are being impacted by the hot weather and the increase of people hiking the trail, camera #4 is filming an abundance of them being productive at night, collecting twigs to build and repair their homes. We also caught one enterprising woodrat adding on to her penthouse suite high up in a tree.

Dusky-footed woodrat home. Photo by Marilyn Krieger, CCBC

The wildlife cameras are filming changes. Most are expected, caused by the cycle of seasons. Others may be caused by an increase of people enjoying popular trails throughout the day and into the night.

 

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These 4-legged visitors have great reasons for hanging out in front of our cameras. Through trial and error, we’ve found spots where animals are most likely to show up—safe places with plenty of water and food.

Lion walking the trail. Photo by Marilyn Krieger, CCBC

We’ve placed most of the cameras in areas where there are predictable resources that include food, water as well as places that seem safe from predators and other threats. Deer, rabbits and other rodents seek out high nutrient grasses and plants. They in turn, attract bobcats, foxes, coyotes, mountain lions and even domestic cats.

Cameras #5 is attached to a tree, south of Half Moon Bay, about one mile from the coast. It’s pointing up a grassy trail that leads to a creek. Animals find the route ideal for accessing the fresh water—it’s like a wildlife highway. My camera has recorded the same animals taking advantage of it every day, while others use it once or twice a week.

Deer

Meet 3Ears… I’ve been following this little one for about 5 months. Although, I’m not sure if 3Ears is male or female, I will refer to it as a female.  She’s never alone, is always with the same family group who I’m assuming include her mum and a sibling. Camera #5 frequently films her being groomed and attended to by a mature female. 3Ear’s extra ear makes her distinctive—she’s easy to pick out of a crowd. She may have met up with a predator or perhaps had an encounter with barb wire when she was a fawn or maybe she was born with 3 ears. Every month I check the camera—hoping that I catch a glimpse of her with her family munching on the abundant plants. I dread the day when she’s no longer around—I’ve gotten rather attached to her.

Foxes

Two foxes have been keeping each other company since October. They make impressive appearances at night, chasing, playing, hunting and sometimes grooming within view of the lens. Usually they walk in single file; one takes the lead, the other follows. I haven’t named them yet.

Last week the camera caught one of them with either a kit or a rabbit in it’s mouth.

Bobcat

There are other animals who also are regulars on the trail. A couple of bobcats take advantage of the cover and the rich array of rodents who have set up housekeeping. The coast camera films these alert little guys stalking prey as well as pausing, with their ears tracking subtle sounds and their eyes catching every movement. Their tails are usually in motion. I am curious if bobcats use their tails like domestic cats do, incorporating tail positions and movements into their communication system. Although, I am fully versed in the tail language of domestic cats, I don’t know much about how bobcats use their tails.

Now that it’s spring, I’m hopeful that my cameras will catch glimpses of mums with their little ones. Most likely I will name ones who have distinctive behaviors and markings—I’m sure I’ll get attached and become sad when they move on.

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