Photography Chronicles: Documenting the South Bay's Most Elusive Wildlife

When I was 13 years old, I tried my hand at wildlife photography the traditional way. I was eager to catch glimpses of fascinating local species, so I explored the many public parks in the Bay Area with my camera in tow. Using a long zoom lens, I could keep a safe distance while capturing close-ups. The process was fun and exciting, and soon, my curiosity kicked in. What if I could take candid photos of elusive wildlife in more remote South Bay landscapes? 

Take, for example, the mountain lions, deer, and bobcats who frequent the private lands that local conservationists work so hard to protect. That’s when I reached out to POST about collaborating. If all goes according to plan, the photos we capture together will be stunning and powerful tools to raise public awareness about wildlife connectivity. 

This early on, we’re fine-tuning our process as we go. Read on to learn about our strategies so far, one of which involves being in the know about where scientists have spotted mountain lion scat lately. I’ll also fill you in on how we’re navigating the handful of tricky challenges we’ve faced and our first truly spectacular photographic win!

Gear and Logistics

How do you get great shots of animals in remote landscapes without startling them, risking your physical safety, or scaring them off? One effective approach is to use camera traps.

While the word “trap” might sound inhumane, it’s the opposite. Photographers and scientific researchers use these out-of-the-way devices to observe camera-shy wildlife and their behaviors up close without being physically present. The wide-angle photos allow us to ensure that plenty of gorgeous habitat can shine in the frame. 

It can be rare for a photographer to come across a wild animal by chance. Thank goodness camera traps are remotely activated with a motion sensor that detects creatures passing by 24/7. Using this technology, I can better my odds of getting compelling photographs while animals can go about their lives undisturbed. 

These powerful cameras serve other essential purposes, too. Scientists and conservationists at POST and beyond also use them to study wildlife in their natural environments. Their imagery provides actionable data about how human activity (like hiking, driving cars, or constructing a building) impacts wildlife species moving through a changing landscape. 

Photographing Mountain Lions at Lakeside Ranch

Our efforts started at Lakeside Ranch, one of the largest remaining intact ranches in the South Bay Area. We knew this was an ideal setting to document our area’s biological richness – particularly mountain lions – the apex predators in this region. We went with a DSLR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) camera trap. This model features higher-end triggers and flashes to capture high-quality, high-resolution images of wildlife day or night. We also set up a device with a mirrorless camera to capture 4k video of animals when they trip the motion trigger.

Camera trapping in new locations often requires some trial and error. At an active ranch like Lakeside, you’ll likely run into some grass-eating photo-bombers with hooves! Grazing cows can be integral for local conservation efforts, helping to keep our grasslands healthy and balanced, as well as reducing the risk of severe wildfires. Logistically, however, cows are a camera trapper’s worst nightmare. Within a week of setting up, I received a message from the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Agency — POST’s partner organization and the property’s long-term steward — that the cows had knocked down the video camera trap.

So, I rushed back to Lakeside with Hannah Eugster from POST’s marketing team to reinstall the video camera. We had to adapt the setup to use a T-post bracket for the camera box and camouflage it with fake leaves to keep the curious cows away. After feeling good about the more stable setup, we went to check the photo camera trap.

We prepared ourselves to find the camera trap in shambles, but luck was on our side. Our setup was still standing, and the camera had already captured a resplendent mountain lion mid-stride! The background of the resulting photo is dark since the mountain lion came out at night. The evening setting and the creature’s dead-on stare make for a compelling and dramatic photograph. Still, it would be amazing if our cameras caught a mountain lion in broad daylight, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

For now, I’m checking the camera traps regularly. In the meantime, we are capturing many photos of deer, which are lions’ primary prey source.

Looking for Bobcats in Coyote Valley

Our second camera trap location is in Coyote Valley. Located just south of San Jose, this area provides essential wildlife connectivity between two mountain ranges: the Diablo Range and the Santa Cruz Mountains. Numerous studies show how local wildlife traverse Coyote Valley, seeking mates, food, and shelter. This curious coyote spotted our camera and we were fortunate to capture the moment!

Among these traveling creatures are bobcats using the Fisher Creek corridor. I had set up a camera here with the specific goal of capturing photos of some majestic wild cats.

A month in, we hadn’t encountered any bobcats, so we chose to regroup.  This is how it often goes — wildlife are unpredictable and you can go long periods without seeing them on cameras. We moved our gear to a different part of Coyote Valley when I heard that mountain lion scat had popped up there. With any luck, this move will bring us face-to-face with one of Coyote Valley’s elusive mountain lions. Since spotting them on the valley floor is pretty rare, it’d be a sighting that would make all our efforts truly unforgettable.