Summertime is hot on the mountain, too!

Tinker Mountain critters seem to be taking it slow and easy in the summer heat. Lots of bears and bobcats although the BuckeyeCam failed this period. All deer photos this 6 week period were all on one camera. At least one rabbit existed among the bobcats and coyotes. The summer showers have aided the understory growth on Tinker Mountain as there is more greenery in the woods that some of the recent drought summers. The bear wallowing on the log is rubbing scent on himself from a pipe cleaner that was nailed to the log that had an application of predator gland scent called “Mega Gland”.

I MCed a screening of a documentary “Lords of Nature” at Sweet Briar College in June. Over 70 naturalist from around Virginia were in attendance. The movie is one hour and we spent another hour with panel discussion. This is a good idea for a outdoor group program. You may read more about it and watch trailer at: http://lordsofnature.org/

–submitted by Ben Shrader