Trail Camera Mystery

[TonySoprano]

Every year I put a trail camera on the same tree facing out into a field. I probably been using the same tree for 20 years.
The camera is about 6 foot high up and angled down. I went out today to water my trees and when driving past I noticed the camera wasn't there. I wasn't alarmed at first , I was thinking did I take that camera down with the others ?. Went to my garage and checked and it wasn't there.

This is where it gets weird...Of course I'm thinking somebody probably stole it. However I get back to the tree and the camera is laying about 3-4 foot behind the tree ,and the strap is gone ! ,but the SD card still in it. The last video was taken on 4/15 of a couple deer walking past. This makes no sense , I thought for sure a video would have been taken when the camera was knocked or taken down.

The strap had buckles and I wrapped the extra length of strap around the tree and tied it. The back of the Browning camera has slots in the plastic for the strap to go through, I would think if a bear pulled on the camera the plastic would have broke and the strap would still be on the tree. Any ideas what could have done this ?. I do have a couple other cameras out that are 10 foot up but they didn't catch any trespassers. I'm thinking somebody had to take it down, but for some reason left it and just took the strap, or threw it in the woods.

 

[T-Max]

To be clear, the strap is completely gone? No trace?


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[Native Hunter]

Are you certain that the switch was in the "on" position when you found the camera?

 

[TonySoprano]

To be clear, the strap is completely gone? No trace?


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Correct ,strap wasn't in eyesight of the tree . I may go back over the weekend and look better. I rushed back home since the SD card was still in it hoping to see a bear, or some Fool but there was no video of it being knocked or taken down.

 

[T-Max]

Possible some rodent chewed the strap and then drug the camera a little ways pulling it the rest of the way out? That is a weird one.


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[Electrodigical]

I'd think a critter (probably squirrel) chewed it off, then took it for nesting material.

 

[Bearswamper]

When I loose a camera- it always is from bear. We have a bear population problem. Their "trademark" invariably is the strap remains on the tree but the camera lays within feet with a huge hole in the plastic back where the strap attaching lug was......and there is always bite marks on the cam body. For some reason I never get an actual pic of the suspect.

 

[Catscratch]

Had that happen this year. Figured I'd find the strap chewed up and nested on top of an intake manifold (along with some chewed up wire). But no dice. I have little doubt packrats took mine.

 

[TonySoprano]

When I loose a camera- it always is from bear. We have a bear population problem. Their "trademark" invariably is the strap remains on the tree but the camera lays within feet with a huge hole in the plastic back where the strap attaching lug was......and there is always bite marks on the cam body. For some reason I never get an actual pic of the suspect.

I went back today and looked , the black strap was laying about 10 foot behind the tree. I pulled on it and it broke in half...deffenitly dry rotted. This is my newest camera only used for 2 years . I would have sworn the strap was still good, I guess they don't make'em like they use too.

No visable damage to the camera , althought I haven't checked to see if it still works from the fall...but I bet it does.
My guess is a racoon or bear, but like you I never got a pic of the suspect.