Originally posted by PocketPixels riseform:
Nice photo! So even after the flash, the critter stuck around and had a drink long enough to trigger the flash again? Are you ever worried a badger or skunk would spray your camera out of panic?
Thanks, I think the camera is pretty safe from attack. The bear has come to inspect the box before but thankfully didn't destroy the set up. Human theft is probably the biggest threat to the set up.
This summer, I've had the trap set up virtually every night. I have a trail cam on the set up as well either in still or video mode. I show up on weekends to change out batteries and check the camera card. The skunks, raccoons, bear and deer seem to ignore the flash and drink away. I checked the card again last weekend on a quick stop and even the badger has made a reappearance (card still in the camera this week). This last month the skunk is showing up virtually every night. I think the animals are used to lightning and likely headlights for those animals that roam a larger territory. Earlier in the year, the deer realized they tripped a flash and would approach slowly trip the flash and then once they knew it was nothing, they'd stick around and drink, ignoring any further triggers.
This is breaking the 15mm rules as I took this earlier this year with the 40 mm, but this is my water hole set up. I'm absolutely addicted to camera trapping and would love to see it pick up in popularity and have its own thread on this forum. Camera is under a rubbermaid box protected from rain but not splash from bathing robins. Flashes are in my do it yourself tupperware boxes. The Camtraptions motion sensor is inside the fake rock with the hold drilled in it off to the left of the water hole entrance path (far left, barely visible in the first photo). The hose is on a timer adding a bit of water daily and there is a pump and small waterfall to keep things moving and filtered. I'll have to shut it down soon as the temperatures are getting close to freezing at night which will put an end to the hose and pump for the season.