Some observations, and a little success

So...
My son and I went out last Monday, to get the pictures off the camera. The camera had been looking at the dam all week. When we got home, we discovered, much to our chagrin, that there were problems with the formatting of the memory card. Drats, and double drats.

We did notice a couple interesting things, however. The dam is higher than it was, and bigger. We compared the picture we took that day with an earlier one. The difference is subtle, but the dam is thicker and stronger. It also seems to be three or four inches higher. You'll notice the water flooding the meadow on the left of the picture.

We also noticed that the pile of sticks we thought might be a food pile is something different, entirely. But what is it? That we do not know. Look at this picture, though, and you'll see that the beaver is somehow packing it with leaves and mud. Is it some sort of den? If so, there is no visible entrance, and it seems awfully small for a beaver lodge. Any guesses?

I would love to put the camera somewhere that it can see this feature. I cannot find a secure place to do that.


As we looked around, we saw several places where the beaver appears to leave the water and head inland. One had a stump overlooking it. That is where we chose to set up this week. The camera is very low, and overlooking the trail from Minebank Run, on the west side.

So, here is our little success. We did capture an animal in the camera. A beautiful red fox.

They are beautiful animals, aren't they. And if you note the information strip on the bottom of the picture, it got pretty cold last night, didn't it?

On that note, I will stop with one more picture. I took it this afternoon. You'll see that the beaver pond, if I can call it that, is partially iced over. Our friend has a nice supply of food under the ice, and a nice den, and is snug and happy withal.

More later.

2013-01-23