Unexpected Photos Captured On Trail Cams

Recently, trail cams have become incredibly popular. These motion-detecting cameras are often used by people in the woods looking for wildlife. They might be hunters, animal lovers, or someone just looking to track an animal in the wild. A lot of times, these cameras are in weatherproof cases and they have batteries that last a long time. For these reasons, they are often left outside for a long time.

It might look like a bad hair day, but this buck actually has a tumbleweed wrapped up in his antlers. This little guy probably loves his new afro, and it definitely works on the doe around him!

This isn’t from a Hollywood movie, this is from someone’s backyard! This great picture of a bear mid-stride is fine to look at from the comfort of your couch, but it’s a little different if you were standing right next to that camera. Seeing the bear next to the large trees skews your perspective of just how large this grizzly is.

Here we see an owl whose eyes are much larger than its stomach. Owls have great night vision, so it’s very surprising that the owl would take on such a massive deer for dinner.

Are deer always the subjects for attacks from small animals? Now it’s a squirrel that’s trying to pick a fight with a buck. It seems that the deer has no idea what’s going on, and the squirrel is in a world of trouble.

If you can’t quite make out this photo, it’s a cat riding on the back of a buffalo. Who knew that this unlikely duo would be such good friends!

And here we go again! The first thing that comes to mind is that someone gave her a dare, and she accepted. What other reason could she have to be creeping up to a deer at night?

In this battle royale, we see two shocked deer facing against a coyote. The deer seem confused and unbothered by the coyote which is in a position ready to attack.

This tiger on the prowl looks like he just had himself a little mud bath. They typically do that to cool down since they don’t have sweat glands.

Another pair of buddies can be seen in this photo. Here, we have a warthog and a raccoon adventuring together. In the distance, you can see another raccoon.

This trail cam was aimed at a feeding trough that someone set up outside of their house. You can see a whole family of deer are enjoying their Thanksgiving together when the camera rudely takes a picture!

Some deer are simply not photogenic. That’s the problem with our friend here. This goofy-looking deer was just trying to pose for the camera, but the trail cam caught him off guard.

And they say raccoons aren’t smart! Here we see a brilliant fella running up a tree to escape an angry and hungry coyote. With its mouth open, it almost appears as though the raccoon is feverishly yelling as it climbs the tree.

This fun photo shows a family of raccoons enjoying their night together. You can make out six raccoons just relaxing and taking a break.

In this picture, two massive eagles are shown flaunting their size. It’s great to see the perspective of just how large these birds are in contrast to the large limb on the ground.

This wildlife photographer captured a grisly sight in southwestern Minnesota. This deer suffered from a very severe case of fibroma. Essentially, this causes large warts or tumors to grow on the deer’s skin.

It looks like we interrupted a deer party, here. The trail cam went off and snapped a pic, and every deer made sure that they posed for it. Hunters probably have dreams that look a lot like this picture.

In this angry selfie, a bird doesn’t understand just how close they are to the lens. We believe this is a woodpecker, and the blur is probably thanks to them viciously attacking the tree and the trail cam.

This fuzzy little wolverine is only adorable from a distance. It might look like a miniature bear, but it’s actually part of the weasel family. This little guy must think that he’s a human, the way he’s striking a pose for the camera.

Did you know that the Grinch was actually a grizzle bear? In this picture, we can see a bear gently eating a stuffed Santa decoration. This curious little guy was looking to get into the holiday spirit the only way he knew how – by eating the mini Santa.

Next up is a group of genius raccoons. The one mastermind realized that he can swing on the birdfeeder in order to feed the whole group.

Did you know that deer like to celebrate Independence Day also? Well… not really – but in this photo, it appears as though a buck is enjoying a nice firework show. In a field alone, the deer found a prime location to enjoy some fireworks.

Everyone needs a helping hand from time to time. In this case, we see a mama bear helping their young bear grab some food.

It’s rare that you see a picture taken moments before disaster, especially on a trail cam. These two wilderness enemies locked eyes.

Now this is what nightmares are made of. We can’t be sure if this is someone dressed up for Halloween or a creature that the world has never seen before.

It seems like every cat just exudes coolness. This picture is no exception. We see a cat chilling on a platform with two deer staring curiously at it. The platform looks far from stable, but it doesn’t seem like the cool little cat minds at all.

Here’s something you don’t see every day. This sneaky otter was walking past the trail cam with a midnight snack in his mouth. It looks like a big fish of some kind. The otter probably felt like he hit a jackpot with such a big fish, and we hit a jackpot getting this great photo.

As much as we conspiracy theorists would like to believe this is some kind of new creature that is yet to be discovered, we’re not quite sure if this one is real or some internet troll playing games with us.

A lot of us have heard howls in the middle of the night, but not a lot of people have actually seen what it looks like. This great trail cam picture shows three coyotes howling to the moon.

Deer commonly rear up on their hind legs as a way to intimidate rivals for mates. They might even engage in a boxing match by hitting one another with their front hooves. Those hooves are wickedly sharp. So this pose isn’t exactly unusual in some contexts. But this guy seems to be on his own.

Apparently, this stag got into an altercation with a rival buck, which resulted in this somewhat gory photo. The buck’s head is actually stuck on the antlers of the stag.

Not all deer are peacefully posing for cameras. This pair of bucks is looking to settle something. Bucks will use their horns to charge one another and attack.

You might think that this derpy deer is the same one from before, but it’s not. Maybe a distant cousin, this deer is trying to figure out what the trail cam is. The result is an up-close and personal shot of a deer studying the cam.

After seeing this picture, you better hope that your trail cam isn’t anywhere near your house or tent. In this picture we see a curious little cheetah taking a look at a trail cam.

Now it’s time for another cute family get together. In this case, we see a mama fox feeding her little family. Foxes are known to be good parents, and this picture is no exception to that idea.

Here’s something else you don’t see every day – a pack of curious wolves are pictured here taking a close look at a trail cam. The wolf in the foreground is perfectly in focus, and you can make out some pretty remarkable details about it.

Is this the otter from earlier? This little guy is enjoying a midnight snack on a fish that they caught. They wink for the camera as they take a nibble.

At a glance, you might think that this is just a regular horse. But if you take a closer look you will see something out of the ordinary.

Talk about an embarrassing photo! This deer was getting some motherly love and had no idea a camera was there to snap a picture of the pair.

The chase is on! In this dynamic picture, you can see a mountain lion chasing after what seems to be a deer. The legs and tail of the mountain lion suggest that they just took a sharp corner, but they won’t let their dinner escape so easily.

This deer had better be off that roadway in a matter of seconds, or it will be… bye-bye so long. The deer is blinded by the headlights of the oncoming vehicle, which has left it confused.

Here we see a man with his deer buddy enjoying the evening together. The man poses humorously for the photo while the deer takes this opportunity to grab a little snack.

How dare you look at me, is what this Wolverine appears to be saying to someone or something ahead, which we can’t see. Either way, looking at those eyes, I sure wouldn’t want to be the one getting that stare

If you’re a raccoon, how are you supposed to get a decent selfie with your friends? This little guy found the solution.

Just like the otters from earlier, here we see a bear proudly showing off its catch. It walks with a fish in its mouth, most likely a salmon.

These two angry porcupines wanted to settle their beef with an audience. They took to the nearest trail cam to capture their fight.

This not-so-natural shot is from a person dressed in a gorilla costume. They probably stumbled across the trail cam and wanted to put on a show for the people checking in on it.

Here we see a mama with her young baby deer. They are cruising around the woods and enjoying an afternoon snack of some greenery. It looks like such a gentle and simple life that they’re leading.

Now, if we didn’t know better it would be easy to say these deers staged that photo. How else could they have gotten it so perfect? The food laying on the ground looks great between the antlers.

I don’t know about you but even looking at this picture is creeping me out. Half animal, half-monster, all monster…ok, it’s plain weird.

You would think that most of the things captured on trail cams are animals — real animals, that is. And for the most part, you would be right. But apparently, trail cams also sometimes capture pranksters doing…well, whatever this is. Some people play sports, sketch, or play guitar as a hobby.

Some of the stuff we spot on trail cams is disturbing, inexplicable, or just weird. And sometimes we get glimpses of moments like this. It’s nothing special, just a mother deer bringing her two fawns for a walk through the woods.

Yes, they fooled us too, if only for a few seconds. Strolling along the roadway, looking so romantic with their beautiful spots, then suddenly you remember, they’re not pets, they’re predators who are not friendly to humans.

This next picture is really hard to explain. It almost looks like the one deer was tackled by Ray Lewis, but there’s nothing in frame that could have done it.

Nature can be cruel, and that is sometimes captured on trail cams. In this picture, we catch a terrifying glimpse of an owl carrying off a domestic cat. Let this be a PSA for everyone: don’t let your house pets wander around unattended!

Guess we’ll never know what they lost, which required a whole pack of Bongos to rummage through the shrubs to find. However, they do look beautiful.

Most of us would feel understandably afraid if we ran across a wolf like this one out in the woods. But the truth is that most wolves aren’t very aggressive and really just want to be left alone. They are much more likely to run away than try to engage in a fight.

Have you ever just wanted to grab your cello and hit the woods for a middle-of-the-night party with some deer? No. Well, I guess some experiences aren’t universal. Those deer seem to be pretty comfortable around the people, which might be the strangest part of it all.

You have probably heard that bears like to scratch their backs on tree trunks. But you might not have ever seen a whole family of bears on the assist. I guess sometimes you really need some help to scratch that itch.

These two foxes must really have a score to settle. They are going at one another like you have never seen them before. Fox kits are known to fight for play just like dogs and cats. But these two look too old and too serious to be playing.

Ok, there are so many possible theories for what went down at this scene. However, the most plausible would be that they called a truce. These animals are not friends and should be ripping each other apart.

Deer are usually prey, not predators. It is surprising to see a deer pursuing a fox. We can only imagine what the fox said to provoke such a reaction. Maybe he made a joke about the buck’s mom.

I’ve been on a few dates in my time, but none of them was as romantic as these bobcats sharing a smooth in the forest. They appear to have a feeding dish beside them, so they had dinner, too.

Admit it; we’ve all found ourselves in a bind at some point in our childhood while playing hide and seek, so why are we laughing at this deer? Ok, seriously…stop!

What’s the best party you’ve ever been to? I bet it wasn’t as fun as this woodland shindig. The food must be really good, because it’s drawn not only raccoons, but also skunks and deer. They also have a full birdbath, which is the animal equivalent of a fully-stocked cooler.

Unless you’d like an after-party scene like this at your house corner, We’d suggest that you don’t forget to seal your garbage bin at night. Mongoose usually prefer rummaging for food in the wild, however, if your house is close to a woodland, which is their natural environment, they’ll happily stroll over and take advantage.

Depending on where you are in the world, your trail cam could pick up some pretty interesting animals. Just look at this one, which captured two zebras stopping for a quick water break. We don’t know where this trail cam is set up.

You might think that this deer has been startled by the sight of the raccoon. I like to think that it is actually practicing a dance routine and clicking its hooves in the air. That raccoon is lucky enough to get a front-row seat.

It is easy to forget how large some birds of prey are. Some eagles, for example, have a wingspan of 7.5 feet. But this trail cam photo really puts it in perspective. No matter how tough you are, you would probably feel intimidated if a bird approached you like this.

Much of the time, animals don’t seem all that aware of the trail cameras. But every now and then, they seem to realize that they are being watched. When that happens, it is time to come check out the camera. Then you get amazing pictures like this.

Some of the animal encounters we spot on trail cam footage are sweet, with animals meeting almost as friends. Unfortunately, this one isn’t quite so sweet. That little rabbit has no idea there is a mountain lion approaching it from behind.

Animals can get into some pretty hilarious scrapes, especially when they encounter human artifacts. Just take this poor deer, who has clearly gotten into a pickle with a plastic bucket. There is no telling how long he had the bucket stuck in his antlers or if he was ever able to get it off on his own.

We are used to seeing farmyard pigs, which are a little cuter and less scary than their wild counterparts. But the truth is that pigs of all kinds are pretty fierce things. Ask any farmer or hunter and they will let you know that pigs can be violent and are known to eat pretty much anything, including other animals.

Aren’t animals so graceful? It is amazing to see how they can run so fast, climb so swiftly, and hunt with such expertise. If you are feeling self-conscious about your own clumsiness, don’t worry — even animals have their awkward moments.

For such fierce and terrifying animals, bears do look pretty fat and cuddly. This one almost seems to be checking out its own backside in the camera. It is probably a coincidence — more likely it was facing the camera and turned to investigate a noise — but it is funny to imagine that it is admiring its reflection in the lens.

This little girl (or guy) is doing an army crawl to wiggle under a fence. Luckily, the racoon can use the cover of night to go places that humans probably installed the fence to keep them out.

Just as the racoon had tried, this little devious fox made the same attempt in the light of day to get under the fence.

With its big eyes and long neck, this bird is quite the photogenic sight to behold!

While most of the trail camera shots are gritty and shot in the cover of darkness, some actually turn out quite pretty!

This trail cam caught some young cubs following their mountain lion mama through the greenery. The small cubs look so inquisitive!

A picture speaks a thousand words, but sometimes it only leaves us  with more questions. For instance, what the heck?

Two mountain lions share an intimate moment by the water cooler during their evening prowl. So cute!

This poor deer’s last moments were captured in an intense moment on this trail cam. What looks like a cougar has used its intense night vision and agility to corner the deer in the right place.