But I just retrieved a camera that I had deployed for a year and thought i would share the results here.
My first camera traps were all Cudeebacks and although I loved the fast trigger speeds and their ease of use, they just don't live very long. They become unreliable quickly and I don't use them for class projects. But my Dad and I set one last year with the intention of letting it just soak for months.
Dad and I set a camera trap in December 2016 Fremont, NY |
Last image from an upright camera Fremont. NY |
Red Squirrel Fremont, NY |
And then the strap came completely undone and the camera came to rest on its side,
The original view |
Same photo, cropped and rotated |
Here is a mouse for comparison:
Deermouse Fremont, NY |
Shrew, possibly Masked Shrew Fremont, NY |
I cannot tell the species from this photo. I suspect it is a Masked Shrew but it could be a Pygmy or a larger Smoky. We are talking about an animal that weighs between 2 and 6 grams. It takes 28 grams just to get to an ounce. This animal weighs as much as a few paper clips. They are so light that they do not trigger the live traps I use when capturing small mammals for class. i will probably never photograph this species again unless it is in the hand or I am using a special camera.
It's good to see you back on the blog, don't stay away so long next time -- PLEASE.
ReplyDeleteShrews are hard to catch with a camera trap. The Camera Trap Codger has done it more than once and I've caught a short-tailed shrew with a home-brewed camera trap while trying for other small mammals -- In Forest and Field: Wee Ones