Tag: Yukon Territory

Watch: Incredibly fat grizzly bear beyond ready for hibernation

Footage from Canada’s Yukon Territory shows an extremely plump grizzly bear that seems beyond ready for hibernation.

A trail camera in Canada’s Yukon Territory has captured footage featuring an extremely plump grizzly bear that seems beyond ready for hibernation.

“This rotund grizzly sure knows how to prep for the big sleep that awaits,” David Troup of Yukon Wildlife Cams stated this week via Facebook, in reference to the impending hibernation season. “While not the biggest grizzly I’ve captured on camera, definitely the fattest, which is meant in the most admirable of ways.”

Troup’s footage (posted below) shows the massive bruin strolling past the  motion-sensor camera with sleepy eyes that almost seem closed. (Please click here if video player doesn’t appear.)

https://www.facebook.com/yukonwildlifecams/videos/1200441621186859

Understandably, Troup’s followers were impressed enough to chime in.

One suggested that the bear is pregnant, to which Troup replied, “Nope, just fat.”

Another remarked that the bear could have been a contender in the annual Fat Bear Week competition that features coastal brown bears of the Brooks River in Alaska’s Katmai National Park.

Another comment: “Great footage, you can see he/she is very content, even looking happy.”

Troup’s reply: “It looks like its eyes are even closed as it walks along.”

The top comment refers to lyrics in the 1978 song by Queen, “Fat Bottomed Girls.” The revised verse: “Fat bottom bears they make this rocking world go round.”

‘Cautious eyes’ focus on grizzly bear family in Yukon meadow

Momma grizzly bear and two large cubs have a wary audience in wild horses that appear ready to bolt at the first sign of trouble.

A trail camera in Canada’s Yukon Territory has captured an interesting scene involving a momma grizzly bear and two cubs being watched intently by wild horses.

“A beautiful grizzly family strolls along on a recent autumn morning as cautious eyes watch from afar,” David Troup of Yukon Wildlife Cams described Thursday via Facebook.

Viewers will note that the horses appear frozen into the landscape; they’re that wary of the bears and making a move that might prompt a predatory charge. (Click here if a video player does not appear below.)

https://www.facebook.com/yukonwildlifecams/videos/839394361509756

Troup told FTW Outdoors that his camera captured this scene Sept. 15 and added that he was not aware of grizzly bear predation involving this group of horses.

Grizzly bears will sometimes chase horses in the hope of catching a tired foal or causing a large horse to fall.

The scene captured by Troup’s camera is reminiscent of a dramatic scene captured by a trail-cam network in 2022 in Alberta, Canada, involving grizzly bears chasing horses that were clearly running for their lives.

Regarding that scene, the Help Alberta Wildies Society stated on Facebook: “The next time someone tells you that the Wild Horses have no natural predators, send them to me.

“We are losing a lot of horses this year, sooner and quicker than in past years. Not just the foals. Adults also.”

Trail-cam footage shows bears ‘foreplaying’ in Yukon forest

The cinnamon-colored black bear seemed the more passive of the two, but is shown pouncing on the darker bear directly in front of the camera.

A trail camera in Canada’s Yukon Territory has captured a what appears to have been a playful moment between two black bears on a remote forest trail.

The footage, shared recently by Yukon Wildlife Cams, involves fairly large black bears, one of them cinnamon-colored.

The darker bear seems to be putting the moves on the lighter bear at the outset. But at  20 seconds, as the darker bear begins to continue down the trail, the lighter bear pounces from behind.

This interaction occurs directly in front of the camera.

David Troup, who positions and monitors a network of cameras in the Yukon wilderness, stated in his description:

“In just a ten hour window in mid-June, a pair of differently colored black bears playing, or foreplaying, a nighttime lynx, and an early morning moose visited this site.”

The lynx and moose are shown after the bear scuffle.

Giant Yukon grizzly bear provides riveting trail-cam moment

A trail-cam operator in Canada’s Yukon Territory has shared several compelling grizzly bear video clips recently, but one stands out above the others.

Last week, a trail-cam operator shared video footage that revealed his “near encounters” with grizzly bears in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

This week, David Troup of Yukon Wildlife Cams shared footage showing a “marvelous” grizzly bear scent-marking a tree on which one of his cameras was attached.

It was reminiscent of perhaps Troup’s most compelling related footage: that of a massive grizzly bear back scratching, or scent-marking a tree before charging toward the camera.

The accompanying slow-motion footage, captured by Yukon Trail Cams in August 2021, lends a unique perspective of what a grizzly bear charge in your direction might look like.

Reads one of the more popular comments: “Can you imagine standing where the trail camera is?”

Another: “Remember, you only have to be faster than your hiking partner!”

Troup maintains a network of trail cameras in the Yukon and periodically shares footage to showcase the region’s wildlife.

Trail-cam operator reveals grizzly bear ‘near encounters’

A trail-cam operator in the Yukon Territory has shared “near-encounter” footage showing grizzly bears in front of his camera on the same days as his maintenance visits.

Those who monitor trail cameras in grizzly bear country must wonder how close they might be to bears when they check their devices.

The accompanying footage, featured by David Troup of Yukon Wildlife  Cams, provides an interesting perspective of what it’s like to be the person who maintains the cameras.

In his Facebook post, Troup revealed how much time passed between grizzly bear visits to the camera site and Troup’s visits on the same days.

“On four occasions this summer I checked cameras on the same day as grizzlies visited, with an increasing trend in separation times, thankfully,” Troup stated. “The near encounters were separated by times of (hours:minutes) 2:24, 4:38, 6:56, and 7:27.”

The bears include a probable large boar at the beginning of the footage, and a sow with cubs.

Troup, who appears in front of the camera between bear appearances, cautioned anyone entering bear country to carry bear spray, make noise, and “hope the space-time continuum is on your side.”

Facebook followers thanked Troup for showcasing the Yukon Territory’s wildlife, but some expressed concern for his safety.

Troup told FTW Outdoors:

“I just responded to a comment of what my point of the post was so it’s not interpreted as me presenting myself as some ‘brave outdoorsman’ narrative.

“Everyone who spends time outdoors likely has near encounters with a variety of wildlife yet may not realize it. But with trail cams we sometimes capture those moments.”

Viewers will note that the first bear sniffs the camera before continuing its journey.

Wild animals have an acute sense of their surroundings and react to motion-sensor cameras in different ways.

Last year, one of Troup’s cameras captured footage of a “camera-shy” coyote that paused in front of and quickly bounded away from the device.

Troup explained that his cameras are well disguised, but added: “Inevitably wildlife can detect peculiarities in their environment, whether it’s by sight, sound or smell.”

Watch: Coyote freaks out in presence of trail camera

Footage shows wolves and a coyote reacting to trail cameras, with the coyote earning the prize for theatrics.

On Friday we shared footage showing an elusive Yellowstone National Park wolf pack reacting to a remote motion-sensor trail camera.

Taylor Rabe, a researcher, stated via Instagram: “Wolves are very aware when cameras are in the area, and you can see these two adults checking it out!”

Her video was reminiscent of the accompanying footage, captured last year in Canada’s Yukon Territory. In the Yukon Wildlife Cams video, the canid is a coyote and its response is spirited.

David Troup of Yukon Trail Cams stated on Facebook: “Coyotes are known for being wary of trail cameras as this one demonstrates with a rather animated response upon that sudden realization.”

In the footage, the coyote stops in its tracks and bows briefly before bounding away from perceived danger.

Troup’s cameras are disguised but he explained, “Inevitably wildlife can detect peculiarities in their environment, whether it’s by sight, sound or smell.”

Yukon Wildlife Cams last year also shared footage showing a momma grizzly bear mouthing a trail camera near a pond.

Wild horse definitely feeling its oats in bizarre trail-cam footage

Trail-cam footage captured in the Yukon Territory picks up mystery sound as wild horses bolt across snow.

A motion-sensor trail camera has captured footage showing wild horses bolting across snow in Canada’s Yukon Territory. But the Yukon Wildlife Cams footage also picked up a mystery sound seemingly issued by the lead horse.

However, David Troup, who monitors the cameras he positions on remote game trails, is reasonably sure he solved the mystery.

“I’m not sure what else this could be other than flatulence from the first horse on a warm winter morning,” Troup wrote on Facebook.

Add this to the many behaviors exhibited by critters as they pass Troup’s cameras.

In the past week Yukon Wildlife Cams has shared footage of grazing wood bison (a first for the cameras), a bugling elk, a lynx, and a compilation featuring appearances by a lynx, a black bear, two moose, a coyote and another black bear.

One of our favorite clips, from 2021, shows a large grizzly bear scratching its back on a tree before charging within feet of the camera, revealing its ominous bulk and massive claws.

Huge grizzly bear springs into action after scent-marking tree

Images showing a grizzly bear scent-marking a tree in Grand Teton National Park are reminiscent of dramatic trail-cam footage captured in August 2021 in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Buckrail on Thursday published images showing a grizzly bear standing while rubbing its back against a telephone pole in Grand Teton National Park.

Buckrail explained that this is more about scent marking than scratching. Marking is a means of communication and the higher a bear can place its scent the larger it’ll appear to other grizzly bears.

The publication describes this as a spring phenomenon, but the photos are reminiscent of trail-cam footage captured in August 2021 in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

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The Yukon Wildlife Cams footage (posted below) shows a giant grizzly bear rubbing against a tree before charging toward the camera in slow motion.

Please note the thoroughness with which this bear marks the tree, but also the remarkable perspective afforded by the camera as the bear runs past in slow motion.

You might agree with trail-cam operator David Troup, who exclaimed via Facebook: “Look at those claws!”

Best trail-cam reaction – Yellowstone wolf or Yukon coyote?

Which animal has the best reaction after encountering a trail camera, the Yellowstone wolf or Yukon coyote?

Remote trail cameras wonderfully showcase the natural behavior of wild animals, but that’s not always the case.

For example, the Rocky Mountain Wolf Project recently shared footage showing a wolf in Yellowstone National Park licking a trail-cam’s lens.

“Just a short clip of some wild wolves from Yellowstone, courtesy of our colleagues at the National Park Service,” the RMWP stated March 27 on Facebook.

The footage, posted below, shows a lead wolf become curious about the camera before stopping to lick the device. Several other wolves ignore the camera.

The footage was somewhat reminiscent of a clip featured here last December, showing a coyote’s comical response after encountering a trail camera in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

In the footage, posted below, the coyote bows briefly before bounding from a perceived danger.

David Troup of Yukon Wildlife Cams stated: “Inevitably wildlife can detect peculiarities in their environment, whether it’s by sight, sound or smell.”

Last September, one of Troup’s cameras captured footage of a grizzly bear responding like the Yellowstone wolf.

Troup wrote on Facebook: “A family of grizzly bears find a camera and investigate the peculiarity in September, with a quick view inside mom’s mouth included.”

–Editor’s note: A similar version of this post, with more focus on Yellowstone wolves, was published April 18

Young elk displays fancy footwork in front of trail camera

A young elk appeared to dance in excitement after detecting a trail camera in the Yukon Territory.

On Monday we shared footage of a wary coyote that detected the presence of a remote trail camera and bounded comically away from the device.

On Friday, Yukon Wildlife Cams featured another clip showing a young elk reacting to a trail-cam far more enthusiastically. (See footage below.)

“In contrast to Monday’s coyote video, this young elk seems to enjoy the spotlight,” wrote David Troup, who maintains several cameras in Canada’s Yukon Territory. “If you’re outgoing and gregarious, learn how to make an entrance like this and you’ll be the life of every party.”

The grand entrance involves an impressive horizontal broad jump as the elk positions itself in frame. The critter then “prances and dances” in the background, as one commenter describes.

ALSO: Watch as lioness, four cubs create ‘cutest traffic jam ever’

Troup’s cameras, which showcase wildlife in remote portions of the Yukon, typically reveal purely natural animal behavior on game trails.

But as he mentioned in the coyote post, critters sometimes detect the cameras “whether it’s by sight, sound or smell,” and react accordingly.

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