A wildlife photographer was surprised to find that a trail camera he placed in a nest was still working more than a decade later.
Wildlife filmmaker Casey Anderson claims to have left a camera in a bear den near Yellowstone more than a decade ago, Newsweek reports.
In a video posted to the YouTube account Endless Venture (@endlessventure), Anderson returns to retrieve the camera.
To his surprise, after a supposedly decade-long hiatus, the camera still worked fine, albeit with some wear and tear, and the very clean battery inside still hadn’t drained after a decade of inconsistent use.
The first video he retrieved showed a curious mountain lion looking straight into the camera before slithering away. Bears, coyotes and other smaller animals were also caught on camera.
“This kind of discovery is what drives me. I’ve spent my life looking for wilderness and setting up cameras and quietly observing what happens when no one is around,” Anderson told Newsweek .
Trail cameras are a valuable tool for monitoring wildlife in a cost-effective and unobtrusive way. When strategically placed, they can capture vast amounts of valuable information and can reach and continuously record places that humans cannot easily reach.
They are also known to exhibit unexpected behaviors, such as mutualistic relationships between species that appear to be natural enemies. Impressive endurance or athleticism captured on camera can draw attention to conservation efforts.
Sometimes, trail cameras capture important evidence of wildlife far beyond its known range, and this information can help support local efforts to protect its habitat.
Likewise, when trail cameras spot a highly elusive species, the sightings can galvanize public support for stricter conservation laws.
In the comments section of the video, viewers clamored for more newly discovered footage after eagerly awaiting the release of the first clips.
“I can’t wait for you to show us what’s on these memory cards,” one viewer said.
Another responded: “Looking forward to future videos showing more of what happened in the footage.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing this,” a third agreed.
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