Have Evidence Need More Equipment.

[Guest]

@ Transformer, the second picture i posted was bear scat. It was taken along with the others at the sime time and location. Do you see a difference in scatological make up? I thought it was relevant to illustrate what bears are eating and passing and clearly it isnt what the mystery animal eats. That seems unlikely and unlike our bears up here. Never seen any scat like it.

@ BFSlueth, the scat is full of grasses. I think they are eating the roots of some of the alpine meadow grasses. We havent played in the poop really. Observed it and bagged it. I think there may be rodent bones in there too. I know some of the grass stems has teeth marks or what appear to me to be teeth marks. Huge variety in color too.

This pic might help illustrate scat pile size better.

[bipedalist]

Essential, is to find a "steamer" if you are going the scat route. At least this is how it was explained to me that scat could be best utilized for dna analysis, maybe the tech. has come along in the last couple years though. But in regard to scatological evidence it would be best to have an expert (lol) weigh in as to how to collect and store such evidence

*not an expert*

This is all as I last remember the discussion of the "matter" on the old BFF I think.

Edited September 7, 2012 by bipedalist

[Cotter]

Very interesting, I wish you the best of luck!

I wanted to ask if you had a combination of small bones and vegetation, but it appears to be so.

Not sure of many bears that hunt rodents regularly. Maybe I'm wrong about california bears.

[Guest BFSleuth]

WW, that scat pile looks like two "events", with two very different colors. Likely two individuals with two different recent diets and different times.

Looks like you've been offered a few valuable resources to help you on your way, and I wish you the best!

[Guest]

Hey,

so from what I understand, there is a particular area that is a hot spot or gathering point for some reason or another. I have an idea that I have mentioned before on the forums but whether or not it works would depend on the layout of this location. I feel like the best approach would be to not approach the spot at all, but to find an observation point from long distance. Again, it may not work for this location because there may not be a distant location that would offer a clear view.

Ideally I would want to find a very tall tree as far away as possible, while still having a line of sight through high powered magnification. Of course, I don't know what kind of equipment you need to take video while zooming in from long distance. I know they've used equipment like that on some of the nature series like planet earth.

These are just some of my wild ideas that may not apply to your situation, but I feel that LONG distance viewing offers many advantages because you don't run as much of a risk of being observed by them first. Im not sure if anyone has tried anything like this, but I know I would be if I had the money right now.

[Guest poignant]

maybe hire a nature photographer and make them sign non disclosure agreements, you could also blindfold them for the drive in....

Haha haven't we learnt anything? No more danged NDAs. If footage is obtained let's set the internet on fire with it.

That being said, woodswalker I wish u all the best and I hope u get a good team and gear up there. You came to the right place, we have many talents and critical minds on board.

Kraig:

Good points and I agree with long distance viewing with a good telephoto lens. If this is higher in the sierras I'm assuming the treeline is thinner and offers better field of vision with a trade off in cover.

[Guest toejam]

There's a documented case of sasquatch being observed piling rocks while looking for ground squirrels, so they do eat rodents.

[Guest]

@ Toejam. I have pictures of stacked rocks at this same site. Ground squirrels are EVERYWHERE at this spot. There are places they have the ground so honeycombed with holes it is dangerous to walk over. You could put your foot down and have it go up to your thigh into the collapsed squirrel tunnels.

The rock stacking is not large but this spot had no track, sign or otherwise that a human had been that way. Possibly ever. Could be natural. Was cool enough to take a picture of.

@ Kraig. You and I agree on some tactics. I have practiced with my less than adequate camera to take pictures from up in trees. Sneaking up on my Dad and suprise photo (a great woodsman and very hard to do). The picture is taken from approx 15 20 feet up and at the max zoom for my camera that would focus. That is why I am hoping hook up with some good gear.

[Guest THRILLER 1]

Hello Woodswalker, and welcome

I will not ask any question or refer to any locations per your requests.

You said..

" My personal experiences as well as those of my father and his brother are proof enough for me."

Have you pesonally viewed a living specimen ?

[spacemonkeymafia]

Regarding the scat piles you have collected- I read something somewhere some scat was tested and parasites were found in it that were new. It was mentioned that some parasites are host specific , meaning a particular parasite is only in a particular host.

Would it also be possible to collect intestenal tract cells and even blood cells from scat?

If what I recall is true, having your samples tested might be something to look forward to.

[Guest]

Dang, I cannot find my scat pictures. Does that mean I can't be one of the cool kids???

I second Thriller's question. Love to hear a tale or two, iff'n you have some to tell. We live for that stuff, ya know.

[bipedalist]

Regarding the scat piles you have collected- I read something somewhere some scat was tested and parasites were found in it that were new. It was mentioned that some parasites are host specific , meaning a particular parasite is only in a particular host.

Would it also be possible to collect intestenal tract cells and even blood cells from scat?

If what I recall is true, having your samples tested might be something to look forward to.

William Dranginis, a member here, did find such a thing relative to BF lice in hair, I'm not sure if it has been discovered in BF droppings but I'm sure somebody would know if it had that will speak up. See: Post #35 here.

Edited September 8, 2012 by bipedalist

[Guest Thepattywagon]

Maybe Justin Smeja could offer an opinion on the scat pics. Evidently, he has viewed a pile of the stuff and could tell you if those he saw looked like your pics.

[Guest toejam]

Woodswalker, that case included stacks like you show. There's a photo that shows stacks of 3 or 4 high as well as a large hole was found after the fact.

The area was covered with rocks. The hole didn't make any sense (except sasquatch looking for ground squirrels).

Curious to know if you've found any stick structures or anything that looks manipulated by hands.

Edited September 8, 2012 by toejam

[Guest]

A picture is worth a thousand words. If you need a thousand words of context be patient =)

This is a sketch of what I saw. This was my first experience. I was 11 and my family camped at Herring Creek. This is what I saw when me and my sister where trying to hand catch trout in the low creek. We were having good success on gettin keeper size Rainbow trout. The feeling of being watched came over me. I looked on the far side of the creek in the granite and there was this. I have no idea how long i was actually staring at it. Probably a few seconds. I clearly remember the nostrils flare, it turned and was down behind the granite rocks.

Curious to me now is, that for some reason I didnt freak out. I just told my sister that we should head back to camp and get a snack. Conjecture on my part was that it was watching us children. I think the fish catching by hand really was something it thought was interesting. Sorry for the amatuer drawing skills.