Woody Meristem

Hiding them from people is the only reason to try to hide a camera. Even though we can't smell a camera, deer and bear can -- the plastic case, the strap, the Python lock and the person that put the camera in place all have an odor that lasts longer then we can imagine. I've got a bunch of white-flash homebrewed cameras and some commercial cameras, both low-glow and black-flash, in spite of what many people think the white-flash cameras frighten animals much less than the red flash cameras. Although it doesn't appear to frighten them, it's even obvious that most of them can see the black-flash that's invisible to us.

Good catch. Interesting color on that fisher, most of them that I've gotten photos of were really dark but I photographed one in the summer last year and it was much lighter. Me too!

I bought a Moultrie in 2012 that I gave away but that's reportedly still taking pictures. It did sit on a shelf for about a year though so I wouldn't say it's been operating for six years. I prefer homebrews because their still photos are better, I can fix them and they last longer than most commercial cameras, but the newer Browning cameras produce beautiful videos so I bought some.

My commercial cameras are in Camlock boxes to which I've added a sheet metal cover over the entire top of the box to cover the top seam and keep rain off the top of the camera. Those boxes fit the cameras like a glove and are very well made. My homebrews are also in steel boxes -- modified A/C disconnect boxes to add security and keep the rain off the top of the camera case. I wouldn't put out a camera without both a Python lock and steel box unless I wanted it stolen by a crook or smashed by a bear.

Great catch. That video's outstanding, those Brownings take super videos and you sure found a great spot.

From PA - "A deer that originated from a Lancaster County breeding farm now under quarantine tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease after being harvested in a Wisconsin hunting preserve, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture." More from PA - "Twenty-seven deer from a Bedford County deer farm have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced." 'Nough said.

Good comparison photo of the eagles. That raven is something special, just about as good as a band. I assume you've read "The Mind of the Raven" and "Ravens in Winter" by Bernd Heinrich -- if not, they're well worth reading to understand more of those fascinating birds.

Some of the critters captured at a fallen white pine -- https://forestandfield.blogspot.com/

If you're going to build your own, I think the Nikon L11 is the easiest camera to hack (they're inexpensive on Ebay), any of the available control boards will run that camera (just order one programmed for the L11). The L11's photos are better than average of the cameras used for homebrews, although there are cameras with a better flash and that produce better photos they're also more expensive and harder to hack. The L11 uses SD cards and AA batteries which are great advantages. Check these websites, they have directions for building cameras and links to Charles Garrett's and Ralph Davis' videos on hacking cameras: http://camtrapper.com/ http://www.diytrailcams.com/

All but one of my 20+ camera traps are homebrews, some have been out in the woods continuously for at least six years with no problems. They take better photos than any commercial cameras I've seen and, for the few that have had problems, I have been able to fix them myself. Although I've never kept track, I don't think any have cost me more than $100 to build. By the way, I started all this when I was completely illiterate about electronics. All of those cameras have been run on rechargable batteries so, other than the initial purchase, the cameras cost pennies a year to operate -- just recharged a set I bought in 2010, they're still going strong. There are two suppliers of parts for homebrews: http://rcdavisgamecamerasolutions.weebly.com/ http://www.snapshotsniper.com/

Fishers are actually omnivores and will eat a lot of carrion and fruit when it's available although they prefer small mammals and birds and specialize in killing porcupines. If fishers lived up to the hype about them we'd all be in danger.

Nice size flock.

Too many!

The photos you posted today are really interesting. If you've got 70 ravens feeding on a carcass they might harass an eagle enough to keep it from feeding. We have wintering goldens down here, but they seem to prefer the most remote areas so aren't seen often. I assume you've seen the videos from the Tuscarora State Forest, but in case you haven't --

Buddy of mine says steel truss plates jammed into the side of wheel ruts will slice open the tire sidewalls -- can't be fixed like a puncture.