WOW..bingo

sue in ca

Wow Rachel, great captures! The bobcat was amazing for sure!

These are GREAT, Rachel!
I might be interested in getting a camera like this, which model do you have?

Konrad

I looked at piles of game camera reviews on amazon.com and the cheapest one that everyone agreed they loved was a Cuddeback. I bought a Non-typical Cuddeback Capture, which is just a basic digital game camera, for $220, but you can buy more expensive game cameras that take video, show moon phase and temperature, and even have solar batteries!

It rained all night and most of the day..that's why the lens was foggy on the bobcat photo. If you look, you'll see the bobcat's back is wet.

When the rain quit, I went up in the woods and found fresh 4 x 4 1/2 inch tracks at the end of our logging road. Several of the sets of tracks had 42 and 37 inch stride lengths and this time one of the tracks was in such deep mud, it showed the cat characteristic triple lobe on the bottom of the huge pad, so it's definitely in the cat family, although too large to be a cougar.

The photos I took didn't come out well enough to show the triple lobes, however, so I may have to take more photos tomorrow if the cat itself doesn't put in an appearance on the Cuddeback tonight.

I put the photos the "Yikes! 'Bigfoot' is back" post.

The careless way the animal went be-bopping up the middle of the logging road in broad daylight seems to indicate that it is an escaped pet, although it certainly has been wary of the camera so far. I found one of its tracks within yards of my house, so I ordered a 10 million candle spotlight to sweep the woods when the dogs bark.

Wonderful pictures of so many species!

Great turkey picture with beautiful colors. A rabbit on the run. An owl (could it be an Eastern Screech Owl with the reddish covers?) making a catch just in front of the cam. A beautiful skunk and finally a great Bobcat.

Congratulations Rachel and thanks for sharing.

Luc

The gray and muted red colors of the owl seem to match the colors of the Great Horned Owl in Sibleys, but when I compare the size with the skunk near the same spot on the trail it must be an Eastern Screech Owl

Since the Great Horned Owl has a wingspan of 44 inches, 3.6 feet, it must be an Eastern Screech Owl. I changed the label on the album. Thanks!

Whatever kind of owl, it's still a way cool shot you probably could never get if you were there in person. :) It shows great detail. I'm enjoying the photos!

Thanks, and I agree. The dogs have been quiet so I can assume that our large-footed feline visitor has finally moved on, but I'm going to check the woods later on to make sure.

Nothing much from last night..same Red Fox vixen I saw four days ago, and the same Eastern Cottontail

2-28-09, Red Fox vixen, 12:28 a.m.

2-28-09, Eastern Cottontail, 4:56 a.m.

I don't know what I'll do about it anyway if the tracks are verified as jaguar, or if it shows up on the Cuddeback photos. After all, it's been around this whole time and so far nothing has gone missing, but maybe it's because it's immature.

But jaguars are everywhere in South America and people don't seem to mind them, so if I'm not in danger, I'll leave it alone. Still, when I'm in the woods alone (which is every day) it often crosses my mind.

Because of my nervous checking for jaguar tracks and scat I've now become aware of other tracks and scat and I can see them everywhere..even in leaves and grass. I can't imagine how I missed it all before..it's like I've been only half aware-more focused on bird activity in the trees.
I'm definitely going to wear overshoes in the woods from now on.

These photos are incredible, Rachel! Big WOW!

I hope you are able to solve your possible jaguar mystery soon.

What fun! I love seeing the pictures. I want one of those cameras!
Robin

I photographed fresh jaguar (?) tracks yesterday after it quit raining and posted them on the "Yikes! Bigfoot" thread but today DuBois and I went out in a sleet storm at dusk and photographed these fresh tracks near the end of our logging road.
These would have been made since I checked that road last night.

2-28-09, fresh (suspected) jaguar track, showing lengthened second toe, corresponding to index finger. Indicates right front foot

2-28-09, two fresh jaguar(?) tracks, showing length of stride from toe to toe {{gwi:1356954}}From 2-24-09, Tracks and scat

2-28-09, fresh jaguar(?) track, showing end of tape measure to measure stride length

2-28-09, fresh jaguar (?) track of smaller back foot, tape measure showing length of stride from tip of front foot

By the way, I got a reply back from a the researcher at VA Tech that used a trained dog to locate jaguar scat in Belize for a study.
She wrote, "While it does look 'cat-like', it is hard for me to tell for sure. I have never heard of any jaguars being held in captivity in KY that would have escaped."

Yet twenty years ago I remember being at a flea market where vendors had cages of exotic big cat kittens for sale, including black jaguar cubs. And ten years ago the people across the road had a half grown lion cub in a corn crib. Around here, folks like dangerous animals and they tend to make their own laws.

I doubt the VA Tech researcher actually tracked the jaguars herself and proabably doesn't have a clue about tracks. No one else has answered me yet, so I emailed the photos to Tom Brown Jr's Tracking School for an ID. Maybe someone will get back to me next week.

No matter what it turns out to be, I don' intend to do anything to it as long as it leaves my horses and dogs alone..and doesn't eat us either of course.

I've not heard of any unusual predation around here; adult jaguars kill with a nose bite, drag prey to gullies and cover them with brush. But maybe this inexperienced hunter, without a mother to teach it, only hunts small game. The scat is filled with white and black hair..a skunk? A dog? A cat?

Those are some great photos Rachel, thanks for posting them! It makes me want a camera like that some kind of bad.

Wow, those pix are AMAZING!! Thanks for sharing!

Cool photos! How lucky you are. Hope you get a photo of the cat or whatever it is.

There's some fancy cameras available now. Mine was motion activated and had a flash. I think some can even do night photos without a flash so the subject isn't aware that its picture is being taken.

I don't know if they have the best prices but Bass Pro has a good selection and I thought someone might want to look.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bass Pro Game cameras

Thanks for the link; be sure to check out the reviews below the item, though, before buying. The few game cameras on that link I checked had all negative reviews..poor photos, short battery life, etc.

I guess I've been worried about the big tracks for nothing; I googled jaguar predation last night and experts agree that there is no record of a man-killer jaguar, that they only kill livestock in the Amazon after the forests have been burned and no game is left, and then only a few jaguars learn to do it.

Around here, there are so many deer now that licensed hunters haven't been able to keep up with thinning the herds.
Besides, I found out that jaguars are a protected species in the US and nearly extinct through over hunting in their home range, so I'll just leave the poor creature alone since it's doubtless here through the illegal pet trade, and no fault of its own.

My brother emailed me last night that a black jaguar came onto his work site in northern NY ten years ago, then "side-hopped" an eight foot fence. Ten months later, one was video-taped on the Canadian side and on the local news that night.
I'm beginning to wonder if there's anyone who HASN'T seen a "black panther"..most people-at least around here, where people spend a lot of time outdoors-have a member of the family who has seen one.

A Bobcat's front foot, is only 2" long X 1 7/8" wide, with a stride length of 10-13 inches, and I see their tracks everywhere on the trail even though their light weight makes the tracks hard to see. Even a cougar's front foot is only 3 1/4 inch long X 3 1/2 inch wide and their walking stride only 14-17 inches.

A jaguar is the largest North American cat, with huge front paws designed for swimming, up to 4" long by 4 1/4" wide, and a walking stride length of 16-30 inches, and the only known candidate for those huge tracks.

http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/w_c/jaguar/jaguar_brochure.pdf

http://books.google.com/books?id=b5A9KgAve1UC&pg=PA224&lpg=PA224&dq=compare+cougar+jaguar+tracks&source=bl&ots=oDQ-34ZB6_&sig=QY-AfAubLs821SknhjR3hJF8X1g&hl=

As to such a big animal being able to keep out of sight, we saw a documentary years ago shot in Great Britain that showed about 1400 jaguars and leopards quietly breeding, totally unnoticed, near highly populated areas many years after owners dumped them after it became illegal to own them.

So apparently I have nothing to worry about unless the jaguar finds out that horses and mules are delicious. Some South American jaguars take a liking to domestic dog, but it has plenty to eat around here without them..jaguars even eat frogs!

That's pretty cool - you have a lot of activity there. I've been thinking of putting a spotlight on my feeders so the feedercam can pick up anything that's visiting at night.

Thanks Rachel!
I hope you get to the bottom of this elusive foot print.
The Cuddeback has different models, which one do you have? Are your night shots done with flash?

It's a Non-Typical Cuddeback Capture that I bought on Amazon.com for $219. It uses regular flash and whenever I pass it in the dark, like we did tonight while walking up to the hayfield to watch the Woodcocks (they were a no-show), the flash startles me horribly.

It would be far better to have an infra-red flash, I'm guessing, yet animals seem to walk in front of the regular flash anyway. There may be more of them, though, with an infra-red.

Thanks..
I looked at some of the photos in this Cuddeback site, some interesting shots with albino deer and more.
It seems most of these shots are taken on HUGE feeding stations [Corn], not sure if this is a good thing?

Konrad

Here is a link that might be useful: Cuddeback

The albino buck and raccoon shots are amazing..thanks for the link!
I don't know about the morality of feeding stations; it's illegal in national forests, but around here people put out corn for deer and wild turkeys on private land to make them tame so they are easier targets in hunting season.

Why not just put them in cages, too so it will be even easier? It also bothers me that people use the Cuddebacks just so they can locate animal to kill, although that's their original purpose.

On the other hand, there are waaay too many deer around someone needs to thin them.

Here are the Cuddeback photos from last night. We went up to the hayfield to see the Woodcocks last night (they were a no-show; maybe it was too cold and windy even for them?), and just missed this bad boy

3-1-09, Bobcat, 7:46 p.m.

3-2-09, male Red Fox, 1:40 a.m.

Just to point out something here:
any number of other people might easily take one good look at the darkened shot of the bobcat up in the earlier body of your post and swear it was a photo of a "black panther".
Had there simply been a tree or a limb just right to obscure that shortened tail, it would have been enough.
THere is very little to show the scale of the animal, the coloration/patterning of the coat is not clearly discernable, and although WE know that it is a bobcat from your explanation (and some of us just knew from experience), this is still a good example of how mistakes could be made.

I agree!

I recently saw in the distance what appeared to be a bobcat by the Knipp Road road at dusk, but when I examined the tracks the next day, it was only a house cat. Later, I saw a bob-tailed domestic cat on the porch of the nearest house, so that's what it was.

When I'm in the woods alone I still tell myself that the tracks are from a huge-footed dog with no claws, but now that I've read that mountain lions are more dangerous than jaguars, I feel better.
A little.
At least at it gave me courage to go on top of the mountain last night to watch the Woodcocks. I don't know if we were too late or the weather was too nasty, but not a "beep" was to be heard.

DuBois and I hiked up the mountain last night to check for fresh "Big Foot" tracks, despite the frozen ground, 22 degrees and wind. There most certainly WERE..just around the bend of the logging road from the Cuddeback camera, but I posted photos of them on the Feb 25 "Yikes! Big foot is back" thread.

We decided not to try to see the Woodcock aerial displays again until the weather moderates.
When we passed the Cuddeback it took our picture (note ruler in my pocket to put next to tracks when I photograph them, to show size)

I'm not really nervous..but I don't argue when DuBois offers to come with me

The only other critter photo from last night was the male Red Fox again

3-3-09, male Red Fox, 1:45 a.m.

Warning to game camera buyers..BUY INFRA-RED FLASH ONLY. It's now apparent from their tracks that animals are skirting the camera to avoid the annoying flash.

There were both fresh jaguar tree and ground scrapes-along with scent marking-from yesterday, one, just barely out of sensor range (I posted photos on the Feb. 25 "Yikes! Bigfoot is Back" thread).

The first two infra-red photo quality reviews I read were disappointing, so we just moved the Cuddeback camera to a different location. We caught some unsuspecting animals by surprise but they'll probably soon change their routes again. The flash won't scare daytime animals such as wild turkeys and deer, however

3-5-09, male Red Fox, 12:51 a.m.

3-5-09, young female coyote, possibly pregnant, 3:55 a.m.

3-5-09, domestic cat, 6:11 a.m. {{gwi:1356966}}From Cuddeback trail camera photos-wildlife on Picazo Farm pond trail

Since I read that jaguars don't attack people, I've stopped worrying about the huge tracks. If they start appearing in the mud again, we'll put the camera directly above the spot and hope that whatever is making the tracks will make them again and this time we'll photograph the culprit in the act..whatever it is.

In the meantime, it's turned warm so I'm heading up to the Woodcock display ground tonight before the weather turns foul again.

Rachel, what fun you are having with your Cuddeback game camera!

I have often wondered if they worked okay and from the cool shots you are getting I'd have to say, yes!

Something for me to think about, too!

Gail R (WNY)

Be sure to read reviews before purchasing, and try to get an infra-red.
The Non-typical Cuddeback Capture worked great for awhile, but eventually the local critters grew tired of going blind from the flash and began avoiding the area.
I moved the camera and caught some of my former victims by surprise the first night but they wised up even further and with this latest camera relocation; I've had zip.

As for that suspected jaguar thing, I just don't know what to think. I keep finding scratched up places on the ground-just out of camera range.

I had read that researchers in Mexico use skunk glands and Calvin Klein's Obsession to lure suspicious jaguars close enough to their hidden cameras for photos. So, I bought some Obsession and sprayed it on the ground in front of the camera two days ago.

Today, near my camera, but off to the side, I found another scrape and there was that same skunky, rank, salty smell I'd smelled before near the scratch marks by the pond several days ago.

No photo of course. The other animals stayed away as well, I noticed. There's probably a twitter about me out there: "Danger: bright flash. Avoid plastic boxes"

3-9-09, Picazo Farm logging road, possible ground scrape {{gwi:1356967}}From 2-24-09, Tracks and scat

Unless I actually get a photo I can't say for sure what's leaving the tracks and scrapes. I sent some of the track photos to several big cat "experts" but only two answered, giving vague, non-commital answers that seemed to indicate they were as mystified as I was.

Catnip works on all cats. Get a big container and sprinkle it near your camera. See if that works. :)

That's a great idea; I'd never have thought of that! I'll call around and see who has some.

There was another scrape this morning-this time right in front of the last place I'd located the camera, as though the critter was giving me the finger. Of course, many animals make ground scrapes, but it seems to be the same width and length size as the others, although I don't see the four deep scratch furrows I saw in the others {{gwi:1356968}}From 2-24-09, Tracks and scat
{{gwi:1356969}}From 2-24-09, Tracks and scat

The one Cuddeback photo from last night shows a poor deer trying to sneak around the camera by going off-trail

Cropped photo

Hi Rachel,

Let me congratulate you for all the efforts you make to find the truth.
You remind me Kurt Wallander the great detective in the Henning Mankell books.

Keep on. I am sure that search will make you discover much more than you ever expected.

Luc

Thanks for the encouragement, Luc!

I decided to try Gor-gor's suggestion and ordered a pound of powdered catnip, which I sprinkled around in front of the Cuddeback camera last night on our way up to see the Woodcock displays, although I've not seen any alleged jaguar sign since March 5.
I also put an HCO ScoutGuard SG550 5MP Infrared camo Hunting Game & Scouting Trail Camera in my shopping cart on Amazon.com, ready to order as soon as I get the money.

I haven't had very much success in the past two weeks..I was surprised to even get these deer. I suppose it was because it was daylight.

I've not photographed a fox or coyote since March 5

That coyote must have whelped already because she about tore the lower filed apart digging up voles one night. Just about didn't leave any grass!

With all that catnip lying around maybe I can at least lure the bobcat in for a photo. Eventually the possible jaguar will return-as DuBois says, it has a huge territory to cover.

Hi Rachel,

The deers pictures are really great. Beautiful colors and good focus. Amazing!
The infra-red cam wont show such beautiful images but of course maybe others critters.

Thanks a lot for sharing,
Luc