My first mistake was placing the camera too high. Wrong idea. The camera needs to be at ground level or perhaps up 8-10 inches and pointing slightly down for fox, raccoon, possum, squirrel, ground-feeding birds, etc.
My mistake was that I had the camera about two feet up on a pole and was getting nothing but brush movement. I knew critters were coming, however, as I was losing bait (a simple combination of dog food and bird seed scattered on the ground).
Yesterday evening, I took the camera off the pole and put it on the brick foundation of the greenhouse. Bingo. My first red fox picture. Fat little thing isn't it? I treat my garden fox very well. There is no war on foxes going on at this house.
I think putting the camera up a foot and pointing it slightly down may also reduce some of the glare from the flash. I also clearly need to dispense with my old fox feeder tube -- it just makes for an ugly bit of kit in the background and is not needed. I am also going to take the date and camera number off (there's only one camera, and I do not care what the date is), but leave the time code on.
I notice that the camera trap experts often place bait on a log or rock forcing the critter up to a defined location higher than the surrounding grass and leaf line. I may not need to do that, but it's something to think about.
I have beaver castoreum to attract critters, but I have not yet mixed it up with catnip, as I could not find glycerin (the thinning agent) at the drug store. I will try a health food store today. I may not need a scent bait at all, as fox and raccoon are, I think, pretty well accustomed to coming to my back yard for the occasional snack.
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I wonder if men's deodorant scented with "musk" would work as an scent lure? The synthetic musk in macho deodorants (whatever it is) might work better at turning on the local wildlife than it excites the womenfolk.
ReplyDeleteNice shots, a profile and a head on smile. I think your garden fox is part ham.
ReplyDeleteI love the pics!
ReplyDeleteThe date might be useful in future, maybe you could change the setting to make it smaller and a lighter colour, like white.
You may be able to get glycerin at a baking supply shop or an art supply shop. I use it as a drying retardant for acrylic paints and is also used in cake decorating and candy making.
I'm surprised the pharmacy doesn't carry it, that's where I buy mine.
Neat project, looking forward to more instalments!