Game Camera Study

August brought another busy month of wildlife activity across the property as the third quarter of the year continued. White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) remained the most frequently detected species once again. The game cameras recorded 158 fawn detections throughout August, which is even more than July.  Some fun moments included fawns lying down together, a fawn jumping, three fawns nursing, and a fawn sharing the camera with an Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus).

American Beavers (Castor canadensis) continued to be especially active at the Otter Pond throughout August. Raccoons (Procyon lotor), Virginia Opossums (Didelphis virginiana), and Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) also continued to make regular appearances. Coyotes (Canis latrans) and Bobcats (Lynx rufus) were occasionally detected, including one Coyote that was captured carrying prey.

There were also a few interesting captures during the month. Two bucks were caught fighting, a horsefly was seen attached to a doe, and a baby raccoon made an appearance during the final week of August. Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) were also among the birds captured on the cameras. As August came to a close, CWF staff also began preparing for the Snapshot USA project, which starts in September and will provide another opportunity to document wildlife across the property.