Bobcat tracks and dead (eaten) salmon. + Coons + Trapped Possum

[billythekidrock]

While walking, I heard a salmon splash in the shallow creek and went to take a look. I ended up seeing a half dozen in a short distance.



On my way out I walked the bank of the creek looking for more salmon, both alive and dead. I was hoping to find some predator tracks or any sign of predation. Even though the live salmon were pretty beat up, I was surprised at the lack of floaters. I did find one salmon that was belly up. It was untouched by predators and birds.



I continued along the creek as I headed back to the truck and about 50 yards away from the dead salmon I found some tracks crossing a log that almost crossed the whole creek. It was just a little shy of hitting solid ground on my side, but I could see some bobcat tracks that came down and then back up the log.



I also noticed some domestic dog tracks near the base of the log. I am pretty sure that the dog was not chasing the bobcat and the dog tracks were a day or two fresher.



The dirt in the tracks is from my boots.

Wednesday night I went back to see if anything had touched the fish and all I found was skin. I decided I would come back on the weekend and set up a trail camera.



I went back this morning and made a 20 minute stand just in case any predator was around. I noticed at least three more fish within a few yards of the one from last week.

I set up near a bend in the creek with the salmon remains about twenty yards away on the other side. The call was set up in the grass near the bank of the creek closer to the remains than me. I never heard a thing and had no visible takers.



A couple yards to my right….



This one was between me and the call, on my side of the creek. It looked as if a bird got into it and I did not find tracks or scat of any kind.



On the other bank I noticed a couple carcasses that had been eaten on.



This one was flattened. Even the remains of the upper and lower jaw were smashed flat almost as if something heavy sat on it.





I flopped the one carcass across the creek and piled it with the remains of two others and set a trail cam up next to them. This photo is from the other side of the creek.



Even though there were some bobcat tracks there a week ago (I have also seen them there in the past) I really don’t know what it eating the fish. Could be bears, skunks, coons, or mink. Hopefully I will get some pics and I will know for sure.

[Kain]

Cant wait to find out.  Looks like a some good trapping grounds.

[rasbo]

should see all kinds of critters there ,good place for a bobby trap

[billythekidrock]

should see all kinds of critters there ,good place for a bobby trap

Was thinking the same thing, but wanted to find out what other critters are there. Don't want to mess with any skunks (yea, I could bring em to you...through Michelle  ) and definately don't want bears damaging any traps.

[rasbo]

should see all kinds of critters there ,good place for a bobby trap

Was thinking the same thing, but wanted to find out what other critters are there. Don't want to mess with any skunks (yea, I could bring em to you...through Michelle  ) and definately don't want bears damaging any traps.

I would think if it were bears they would leave sign by the creek

[billythekidrock]

should see all kinds of critters there ,good place for a bobby trap

Was thinking the same thing, but wanted to find out what other critters are there. Don't want to mess with any skunks (yea, I could bring em to you...through Michelle  ) and definitely don't want bears damaging any traps.

I would think if it were bears they would leave sign by the creek

I agree that it should have left very visible sign which I didn't find, but I found a few things that made me wonder.
One was the flattened fish remains. It takes a lot of weight to flatten a fish jaw and the immediate area was packed down. It reminded my of the banks on POW.
Two was a few "scratches" in the bank. They kinda looked like multiple deer tracks that make vertical lines in the edge of the bank right below the remains, but there was not any deer tracks on the trail.
Three was a small flat spot in the trail next to the bank. It could have been an indent from the hind quarter of a bob kittie or a pad from a small bear.

Add to that, in July we heard a cub bawl about 3/4 mile away and just a couple weeks ago I ran into a DNR volunteer who told me he saw a sub 100 lber the week prior, less than 1/4 mile away.

[bearmanric]

cool picture's. good luck. i use to spend alot of calling time around there. new were the bobcat's and cougar hung out. hope it is a bocat. Rick

[billythekidrock]

Well it weren't a bear.

I went back this morning and looked across the creek and I couldn't see a single fish left. So I crossed the creek to get a better look and not a single scrap of fish was left. I checked the cam and got a few pics to verify it wasn't a bear.

[rasbo]

Well it weren't a bear.

I went back this morning and looked across the creek and I couldn't see a single fish left. So I crossed the creek to get a better look and not a single scrap of fish was left. I checked the cam and got a few pics to verify it wasn't a bear.

pooch

[billythekidrock]

Nope.

[billythekidrock]

I got over 200 photos of these little bandits.



There were only a few pics of all three, and the rest were probably 50/50 between one and two in the pics at a time. They came in at 6pm and went back and forth until a little after 4am.

I am not sure where they packed the remains off to. I looked but couldn't find any trace of fish.

[rasbo]

hmm there  a few  bucks in fur

[billythekidrock]

Might have to take a light out there tonight.....uh, maybe I oughta call F&W to find out if it's legal....uh, um...nevermind. 

[billythekidrock]

Coons have not come back, but this nasty critter did.









Safely on his way.

[bobcat]

You caught a damn 'possum?      What did you do with it?

[rasbo]

dinner and a coat

[billythekidrock]

You caught a damn 'possum?      What did you do with it?

Let him go.

[billythekidrock]

dinner and a coat

 

[quadrafire]

You guys ever skin a possum? If I remember right (its been many years since I have) they have split penis.
Just thought I'd throw that in there. May make for some good Yar material at the next BBQ

[quadrafire]

oh yea, and it was bigfoot that squished your fish. Thats why you didn't find any tracks

[MtnMuley]

That's a good series of pics.  Never had any kind of luck with fish for bobcats.  Kinda seems crazy, but I've found them to almost avoid it.

[Cylvertip]

You let a grinner walk? shoot them damn things.

[Michelle_Nelson]

   Why?  That poor grinner never did anything to him. 

 Has to be something left in the woods that will take care of the crap nothing else will eat!