As I explored one of the far, out-of-the-way corners of the Nature Center in late-October, I was saddened to find the carcass of a deer in a small gap between the dense, riverside vegetation. Any animal-lover would be disappointed to learn of a dead deer, but being a naturalist, I also knew that some good could come from this. Besides a few nibbles on the ears, the carcass looked (and smelled) fresh and intact. So I decided to set up a motion-sensing wildlife camera and see what creatures would come to scavenge the meat. The results were astounding:
We have found Bobcat tracks within a half-mile of the Nature Center in the past, but this is the first definitive evidence we've found of this species on the property. We obtained numerous video clips of the Bobcat feeding on November 4, between 1:45 and 3:00 a.m. Here is another stunning video of the Bobcat:
The other mammal we caught feeding on the carcass was a Gray Fox. Unlike the Bobcat, which was only recorded on one evening, the fox's visits were more frequent, being recorded numerous times over the past month. This is not too surprising, as we have found numerous Gray Fox tracks on the property in past winters. We even recorded the fox visiting within 2 minutes of the bobcat! Here is one of the many fox videos:
Yes! So awesome within the city limits of Montpelier.
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ReplyDeleteThese photos are great! And to think, some people think that nothing goes on at night in Montpelier.
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