The Bat Cave

While the bats were away - likely hanging in warmer temps for winter - we set a cam trap.



It was a location we figured would surely yield black bears - but the camera saw none.



However, as usual, foxes showed several times to sniff, rub & roll - and inspect the cam:











Btw - you may notice that the floor of this cave doesn't look much like bats have been inhabiting it for long. Caves such as this one were mined out during WWII for the built-up guano. Seems it's very high in potassium, and thus useful for making 'splody stuff.

A big bobcat also spelunked the cavern (catwoman?):



And 2 rodents scampered through the scene (the hunted?) - a California pocketmouse, Chaetodipus callifornicus, and probably a pinyon mouse (but maybe a deer mouse):





A nice cast of characters - and yet another set that might be fun to try, try again.

When the bats return. :)

Species list after latest round of traps: black bear, cougar, gray fox, bobcat, spotted skunk, Merriam's chipmunk, western gray squirrel, big-eared woodrat, a Cal pocketmouse, an unknown pocketmouse, 2-3 Peromyscus mice species, and valley quail.

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References:

• The Nature of a Man (this blog) - posts on cam trapping in the Tehachapis

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