Trail camera fails

​It has been said that Mother Nature is sometimes unforgiving. Trail cameras can also be unforgiving. Moments captured meant to depict serene wildlife scenes turned into possibly embarrassing photos -- as if the critters cared. From silly expressions to the occasional slip and fall, the game cameras capture them one and all. 

​While going through a year’s photos, I came across many that gave me a giggle.
​
There were so many interesting photos. I separated them into categories and composed a slide show for each genre. 

Serious Selfies

​Whether it was curiosity about the camera or vanity, several deer selfies were taken throughout the year.
Some were downright serious and stunning. It made me jealous because I often don’t get to take such detailed deer photos. My walking canine companions often don’t allow such opportunities. Nonetheless, the automatic cameras captured some beautiful photos. Their poses were very natural and not forced.  

It that an ear or an eyeball?

​Other selfies were downright failures. Only bits and pieces made it into the pictures. Some selfies were definite photobombs of other animals’ cameos. Gazing at a year’s worth of photos I discovered that the deer were not the only experts at these pictures. A few birds go into the game as well including one irate looking bluebird. 

Animal attitudes

​Additional selfie efforts appeared to work out. However, many of them seemed to include a few exceptional facial expressions.  Some deer appeared to be annoyed with the camera’s presence. One appeared slightly disgusted with the weather. 

It takes a licking

​Quite a few photo captures seemed to depict the critters sticking their tongues at the cameras. In their defense there may have been some “treats” or a salt lick in the area. A few does were caught in mid-chomp under the peach trees.  However, one bear appeared to be sticking its tongue out after destroying one of my bird feeders. 

Curse of the empty bucket

​Sometimes the treats went missing. The bucket operates on a first come first served basis. There were looks and acts of desperation caught on camera. One photo included a disgruntled goat searching a wagon. 

Bucket-o-fuzz

​Occasionally, the bucket was filled with a squirrel. They had absolutely no consideration for other wildlife diners. There was a bear in the bucket one night. It laid right down and spent at least a half-hour clearing out some treats. 

​Raccoon bullies

​While no one was around when the bear was there, other critters deterred the approaching deer. There were photos that appeared to illustrate apprehension around raccoons. It seemed to me that the deer didn’t cross the smaller, yet feistier, critters. Even those armed with antlers dared not push the limits with the treat bandits.

Getting physical

​There were no physical altercations between deer and raccoons photographed. However, deer-on-deer violence was recorded. Some rambunctious goats were caught in the act as well. 

Look behind

​There were a lot of deer rears on camera. It was almost as if they said, “Here’s my best side.”

​However, a few photos were a little more risqué. When nature called, it was on camera. Urination, defecation and random unmentionable body parts popped up on the camera cards. 

​Trail cameras have given me such an awesome glimpse of who or what uses our trails when we are not there. A few of the photos are downright artistic.  However, sometimes a random spider or a stick on a windy day can result in forty or more photos of the same image. 

That’s just the nature of things ‘round here. ​