Trail Cam Update: Where the Deer Went, a Fox on Patrol, and the Bear Is Back
If you’ve been wondering where all the trail cam pictures went, you’re not alone. We have too. It’s been a slow stretch on the cameras, so here’s a quick update on what happened, what we’ve been seeing, and what’s coming next.
Why It’s Been So Quiet
Back in the spring and early summer we had bears that kept getting into the feeders. Rather than keep ringing the dinner bell for them, we backed way off on feeding. Less food means less traffic, and the cameras showed it.
Normally we’ve got a steady parade of deer coming through and a ton of activity to share. This summer it’s been a much smaller group, mostly does, and we haven’t caught a single buck with antlers on camera yet. That’s on us for not getting the feeders going again sooner.
The Highlights We Did Get
It hasn’t been all empty frames. A couple of weeks ago a fox came through at night, and then about a week ago we caught a fox again, and this time we got a really good picture of it. Back in late July a fisher came through too, which was a great surprise. Fishers are secretive and it’s always a treat to catch one on camera. We’ll dig up that picture and share it when we find it.
We’ve also got a few deer shots in the mix, which you’ll find in the gallery below.
And Then Last Night: The Bear Is Back
After two full months without a single bear sighting, a big one strolled through last night. That’s the picture at the top of this post. It’s a good reminder that the Western UP is still very much wild country, and fall is when a lot of animals are on the move and bulking up for winter.
What’s Next: Lighting Up the Cameras Again
We’re heading into fall, so this week we’re putting feed back out and baiting heavier to get activity going again. There’s no reason we shouldn’t have deer back in, and with the deer usually come the others: foxes, the occasional coyote, and hopefully another fisher or two.
We also need to pull the SD cards and get the videos off. We’re hoping to have footage of the fox working over the pile and the big bear coming through, and those should be a lot of fun to share. Stay tuned.
If you want to see this kind of wildlife for yourself, our vacation rentals are tucked into the woods and lakes of the Western Upper Peninsula, a short drive from Houghton and MTU. Book direct right here on our site, or find us on Airbnb.
Recent Trail Cam Pictures
