I currently have six wildlife cameras in a hillside forest near home. Every week or two I take a walk, from one side of the hill, over the top, and down the other side, stopping to check each camera along the way. I enjoy the opportunity to be alone in the forest, off trail. I pick my own path, following my own sense of direction, recognizing familiar landmarks like a particular fallen tree, a fern-filled glade, or a notable boulder. I scan the forest floor for fresh tracks, listen for birdsong or the crackle of branches, and just immerse myself in the experience. I find it intellectually interesting and spiritually restorative – and a good workout, climbing up and down the steep hillside. Read on for the video!
Here is a short video with a few clips from my recent traverse, just to give you a sense of the terrain. This is a managed forest, last cut about 25 years ago; it is a mix of fir, hemlock, and hardwoods, with little undergrowth. Often I can follow an old skidder trail, or a game trail, up and across the hillsides.
I’m learning more about bear sign – clues in the woods that demonstrate the presence of bears. This video shows two of the more dramatic examples, in which a bear marked territory by knocking down a tree, and in which a bear left scat after gorging in a farmer’s cornfield.
I’m not too worried about running into bears in the woods; they’re quite skittish, or even friendly. Over the past year I’ve encountered a variety of interesting things:
And finally, a hazard of walking through the woods early in the morning: spider webs!
David Kotz 