Ringtail

This is pretty cool. I had a tip from a friend that there might be a ringtail living in this particular canyon. This is a nocturnal animal, related somewhat to raccoons, that is very rarely seen. They aren't endangered, and are found throughout the southwest, but a combination of their habits and preferred habitat keep them out of sight of people. They are extremely agile, good jumpers, and eat just about anything - including insects, mice, and berries. Legend has it miners used to keep them around to rid their cabins of rodents, giving them the nickname "miner's cat". In size, they are smaller than a fox, and larger than a squirrel. This one seems to like the small pool of water at the base of a cascade in this narrow, sheltered canyon.

Friends in high places

Way back in July, I hiked with a couple of friends along Pleasant View Ridge and placed this camera. It was the most remote location I've put a cam so far. I wanted to see if there was a difference in number or types of animals in a place few people ever go. Then came the fire, which looked like it would wipe out the whole mountain range, then the forest closure, then...oh crap, the forest is open, but how am I supposed to get way back up there now? Lucky for me, I know someone who has free time and likes this kind of challenge. He took a cross country ridge route to get this camera back, when it looked like the newer Sheep Fire might finish the job the Station Fire had started.

And as for the experiment - lots of deer, and this bear and her cub, but no other animals. It's pretty quiet up there. And I'm sure they like it that way.

One camera back, four more to go....

I got the news that the forest closure had been partially lifted yesterday afternoon, and had my bag packed for camera retrieval before you could say "obsessive compulsive much?". Now, the "open" area of forest is not very big, and it also turns out that it's open to hiking....but not necessarily driving on the roads that go to the trailheads. Classic. So instead of grabbing two cameras, which are in easy reach of a parking lot, I hiked from the desert, up into the mountains, a little over 9 miles RT, and got this one. One is better than none, and this camera will now go somewhere close by and accessible.

These bear cubs were seen back in July by long distance runner and photographer Gary Valle. I was happy to let him know they are healthy and growing, and their habitat is still full of manzanita berries, acorns, fresh water, and pretty much everything else bear cubs need.

Other wildlife included a bobcat, a gray fox with the longest tail I've ever seen, and mule deer.