what animal lives in this den?

MattCav · Post by **MattCav** » Thu Oct 03, 2013 11:01 pm

going up the cold spring trail in santa barbara yesterday, i noticed a good amount of bear poo and tracks. cool!

i came across something that seemed odd to me though. a couple piles of bear dung were outside a den or some sort of spot that an animal seemed to be living in...i think?

bears don't live in dens, though, right? there was a ton of dung around it, but it was all berried and planty - so def not a lion. any ideas?

mattmaxon · Post by **mattmaxon** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 5:15 am

Ursus americanus

http://www.bear-tracker.com/blackbeardensandbeds.html

Bears definitely den in winter though they do seem to do it less so here in Southern California

MattCav · Post by **MattCav** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 8:56 am

thanks matt. i had no idea black bears denned. it seemed so weird to see that den 2 feet off a trail as well.

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Fri Oct 04, 2013 6:34 pm

MC- which side of the divide were you on? Pretty surprising if you were on the front side.

MattCav · Post by **MattCav** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 7:47 am

rico -
we were on the front side, a half mile below camino cielo, towards montecito peak. i was very surprised as well, as this trail is well traveled. although...maybe people usually just turn around at the peak? idk, strange.

PackerGreg · Post by **PackerGreg** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:53 pm

I disagree. Since this was in Santa Baarbara I'd say it was Sasquatchus californica ssp. cabrillo.

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 6:08 am

Even beyond the spur to Montecito Peak that trail sees a fair amount of use. Dang that's wild MC.