A trail camera saga: You never know what's going to happen in this canyon. Months ago, before we got any rain, I placed one of my rubber tubs out there so there was at least...

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

You never know what's going to happen in this canyon. Months ago, before we got any rain, I placed one of my rubber tubs out there so there was at least intermittent water available to the wildlife. A cow managed to dump the tub once, but usually it had water in it. When I got down there to check on the camera last Monday, after three weeks, I saw that the tub was gone. I figured, with some of the recent heavy rain in the area, that a flash flood had taken it away, though I hadn't expected the creek to be that high. After a little searching I found it some ways down the canyon, perched precariously across two boulders and full of water.

But when I got home to view the videos, I discovered that wasn't the whole story. There were some interesting videos early on, beginning with a coyote that sees the tub for the first time and nearly faints before approaching it with tentative jerks to sniff it. The ringtails always investigate it, and the big one usually takes a drink. Foxes don't drink from it when there's fresh water flowing. The bear took a long drink before climbing onto the tub with three feet to poke its nose into the dirt above it; as it moves on it shoots a glance at the camera, which tells me the camera is not new to it (otherwise there would have been mischief and a camera aimed in a different direction).

Then arrives a young bull, who gets a drink and licks the inside of the tub before spying a piece of duct tape on one handle that I KNEW I should remove, but that was mostly because it was too reflective at night. The bull calmly lifts the tub by that handle and sets it in the creek bed, dumping the last of the water. The next videos show animals who are used to the tub being on a platform of small rocks above the bed discovering that it has moved, and they don't like it. The fox gooses around at a distance and won't approach the tub. The ringtails investigate the new location and then go to check the old (other animals did the same thing). In the final photo, and I apologize for its crummy quality, the rock squirrel, who is the tub's biggest fan and drinks from it constantly, puts its forefeet and teeth on the rim of the tub and, I swear, tries to tug on it, as if to return it to its proper location.

Although I did get videos of a minor flash flood, the moment when the tub was swept away did not get recorded. After all the other activity, it might have been anticlimactic anyway!

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Lots of fun and very interesting.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Very cool! I really like your trail cam photos.

Susan yamakawa

It’s good you got proof

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

SWFeral wrote:

You never know what's going to happen in this canyon. Months ago, before we got any rain, I placed one of my rubber tubs out there so there was at least intermittent water available to the wildlife. A cow managed to dump the tub once, but usually it had water in it. When I got down there to check on the camera last Monday, after three weeks, I saw that the tub was gone. I figured, with some of the recent heavy rain in the area, that a flash flood had taken it away, though I hadn't expected the creek to be that high. After a little searching I found it some ways down the canyon, perched precariously across two boulders and full of water.

But when I got home to view the videos, I discovered that wasn't the whole story. There were some interesting videos early on, beginning with a coyote that sees the tub for the first time and nearly faints before approaching it with tentative jerks to sniff it. The ringtails always investigate it, and the big one usually takes a drink. Foxes don't drink from it when there's fresh water flowing. The bear took a long drink before climbing onto the tub with three feet to poke its nose into the dirt above it; as it moves on it shoots a glance at the camera, which tells me the camera is not new to it (otherwise there would have been mischief and a camera aimed in a different direction).

Then arrives a young bull, who gets a drink and licks the inside of the tub before spying a piece of duct tape on one handle that I KNEW I should remove, but that was mostly because it was too reflective at night. The bull calmly lifts the tub by that handle and sets it in the creek bed, dumping the last of the water. The next videos show animals who are used to the tub being on a platform of small rocks above the bed discovering that it has moved, and they don't like it. The fox gooses around at a distance and won't approach the tub. The ringtails investigate the new location and then go to check the old (other animals did the same thing). In the final photo, and I apologize for its crummy quality, the rock squirrel, who is the tub's biggest fan and drinks from it constantly, puts its forefeet and teeth on the rim of the tub and, I swear, tries to tug on it, as if to return it to its proper location.

Although I did get videos of a minor flash flood, the moment when the tub was swept away did not get recorded. After all the other activity, it might have been anticlimactic anyway!

You never know what's going to happen in this cany... (show quote)

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

It must be a thrill to check your trail camera footage! I always enjoy seeing what you captured. This must be a good location to get so much variety!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Always enjoy and look forward to your photos!!

merrytexan Loc: georgia

NMGal wrote:

Lots of fun and very interesting.

that is one of your best yet...it does look like the squirrel is trying to move the pan!

Barn Owl

SWFeral, You definitely know what you are doing with a trail camera set. Your results are Impressive. The ring-tailed cats are probably my favorite. If you drilled a couple of holes on the high sides of your pan, tied a small black rope through the holes, and then secured each of the rope to large rocks (Like staking a tent), your pan might not be so easily moved. Thanks for your post.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

SWFeral wrote:

You never know what's going to happen in this canyon. Months ago, before we got any rain, I placed one of my rubber tubs out there so there was at least intermittent water available to the wildlife. A cow managed to dump the tub once, but usually it had water in it. When I got down there to check on the camera last Monday, after three weeks, I saw that the tub was gone. I figured, with some of the recent heavy rain in the area, that a flash flood had taken it away, though I hadn't expected the creek to be that high. After a little searching I found it some ways down the canyon, perched precariously across two boulders and full of water.

But when I got home to view the videos, I discovered that wasn't the whole story. There were some interesting videos early on, beginning with a coyote that sees the tub for the first time and nearly faints before approaching it with tentative jerks to sniff it. The ringtails always investigate it, and the big one usually takes a drink. Foxes don't drink from it when there's fresh water flowing. The bear took a long drink before climbing onto the tub with three feet to poke its nose into the dirt above it; as it moves on it shoots a glance at the camera, which tells me the camera is not new to it (otherwise there would have been mischief and a camera aimed in a different direction).

Then arrives a young bull, who gets a drink and licks the inside of the tub before spying a piece of duct tape on one handle that I KNEW I should remove, but that was mostly because it was too reflective at night. The bull calmly lifts the tub by that handle and sets it in the creek bed, dumping the last of the water. The next videos show animals who are used to the tub being on a platform of small rocks above the bed discovering that it has moved, and they don't like it. The fox gooses around at a distance and won't approach the tub. The ringtails investigate the new location and then go to check the old (other animals did the same thing). In the final photo, and I apologize for its crummy quality, the rock squirrel, who is the tub's biggest fan and drinks from it constantly, puts its forefeet and teeth on the rim of the tub and, I swear, tries to tug on it, as if to return it to its proper location.

Although I did get videos of a minor flash flood, the moment when the tub was swept away did not get recorded. After all the other activity, it might have been anticlimactic anyway!

You never know what's going to happen in this cany... (show quote)

Trail cams are Kewl! Interesting images around the only water source for some miles it seems. Have not seen Coatimundi since I was stationed at Holloman in the 1970s. Thanx for sharing.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

I really enjoy your trail cam footage and narration!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

NMGal wrote:

Lots of fun and very interesting.

Yes, this was a particularly entertaining set.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Retired CPO wrote:

Very cool! I really like your trail cam photos.

The actual videos are even betterl If I ever retire I might create a You Tube channel just for these videos.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Susan yamakawa wrote:

It’s good you got proof

Ha, yes. Of course I plan to contact the rancher and complain about his vandal of a bull. The funny part was that in the video the bull looked uncertain about what he had just done.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

J-SPEIGHT wrote:

Glad you enjoyed these.