My Cameras

something here soon

FAQ

Maybe that should actually be Infrequently Asked Questions? Questions I reckon people will probably ask at some point, possibly frequently? Questions individuals have asked in the past and might ask again? Well, regardless, in the interest of getting the boring stuff out of the way first, here are some questions and their answers.

The Blog:

“Stoatally Radical?” What kind of title is that?

A title borne of a shameless obsession with the mustelid family and a fondness for really lame puns, that's what. In all honesty, I initially started camera trapping with the hopes of photographing weasels, stoats, and mink, so it seemed fitting.

So, what kind of crap are you going to be posting here?

Oh, all kinds. Coyote, bear, muskrat... Wait, you didn't mean literal crap? Well, in that case, expect photos from my camera traps (natch), animal tracks, tips on tracking and wildlife observation, and yes, the occasional scat.

You take pictures of animal poo? Is that really the kind of thing you want to admit on the internet?

Possibly not. In all seriousness, though, there's a lot to be learned about the local wildlife by observing scat, and once you put your squeamishness aside, it's a vital part of tracking and picking a prime spot to set up your camera trap.

Why did you start this blog, anyway?

The photos I've posted at my personal blog have gotten a lot of positive feedback from friends and acquaintances, but unfortunately these entries are always buried under, well, personal ones. A separate blog provides much more organization, as well as allowing me to feel free to drone on and on and on about boring little details like tracking and other aspects of my forest escapades without boring those less fascinated by the mundanities of wildlife than I.

The Camera Traps:

What exactly is a camera trap?

Also known as games cameras, trail cameras, and scout cameras, camera traps are essentially motion-activated cameras used to remotely photograph wild animals in their natural environment. Widely used by hunters, conservationists, and Bigfoot hunters alike, camera traps allow an up-close and personal view of animals seldom seen in person.

What kind of camera trap are you using?

My current cam is a Bushnell Trophy XTL, though I've gone through a couple others. I'll talk more about the specs in my next post.

Where did you get it?/Where can I get my own?

My first two camera traps were hard-won from eBay, and my current one was a gift from my family after the Stealth Cam was swiped from the forest.

If you're interested in your own camera, you should first do a little research into the brand that best fits your need and price range. For that, I highly recommend looking through the reviews at www.trailcampro.com

eBay always has camera traps for auction or sale, but you may wish to purchase directly from the manufacturer website. Some outdoor sports stores, such as Dicks, offer a limited selection of camera traps, but in my experience a great deal of stores have simply never heard of such a thing.

How much does a camera trap cost?

A low-end camera may cost as little as $25 USD, while the better ones can run upwards of $500 USD.

What's a “home brew?”

Simply put, a home brew is a self-made camera trap, or a heavily modified commercial camera. I personally am not adventurous enough to attempt to make my own cam.

What's a “false trigger?”

A false trigger occurs when extreme temperatures, wind, shifting leaves and brush, or internal mechanical errors trigger a photographic capture of an 'empty' scene – that is, devoid of animal activity. Some brands are more given to false triggers than others, but even the best cameras will sometimes yield false triggers.


The Other Stuff:

How did you get into camera trapping?
I guess, "I wanted photos of weasels" is a pretty ridiculous answer, but it's also the most truthful. A long-time devotion to wildlife biology and the mustelid family - that is, the ferrets, weasels, stoats, mink, otters, and their ilk - lead me to purchase a cheap motion-sensor camera from eBay, in the hopes of setting it up in my backyard and seeing what would come sniffing. As it turned out, I got pretty much everything but my intended weaselly targets.


Where do you do all this stuff?
Currently, my primary stomping grounds are in the Jefferson National Forest as it sprawls across Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountain region. I might set up miles into the forest, or in my own forested property.

What do you do when you're not prowling the forest?
I'm currently working towards a degree in wildlife biology, and am, at this time, filling out transfer applications for universities offering better courses and programs that are more, shall we say, 'relevant to my interests.'
When I'm not attending class, geeking out over wildlife, or caring for my own assortment of pets, I cook, read, and write.



More to come...!

Welcome to Stoatally Radical!

There's a sad lack of blogs about camera trapping, and I'm here to remedy that. What started a few years back as a passing curiosity is now my most time-consuming hobby, and I sincerely hope that at least some of you out there will find it as fascinating as I have.