Ever wondered what would happen if you left a camera in a cave for a decade?
One individual has put this curiosity to the test and discovered some remarkable findings.
Casey Anderson, a 49-year-old wildlife photographer from the US, is known for tracking animals in the American West.
Over ten years ago, he placed a camera in a cave that he knew served as a bear den, hoping to document the den’s reuse.
Upon returning to the cave, he discovered that the camera had captured much more than just grizzly bears.
It’s incredible to think that the camera could last that long!
A video on Casey’s Instagram page reveals him retrieving the camera after all those years.
Camera traps are valuable tools for photographers since they capture animals in their natural habitat without human interference.
However, as this instance highlights, they require patience, and there is no assurance of finding anything when retrieving the camera, assuming it remains intact.
This time, Casey’s efforts paid off.
“Not only had bears returned, but so had mountain lions, coyotes, and a surprising variety of smaller animals,” he shared with Newsweek. “One mountain lion in particular kept returning again and again, almost obsessively.”
Explaining his motivation, he said: “This kind of discovery is what drives me. I’ve spent my life locating wild places and setting up cameras to quietly observe what unfolds when no one is around.”
The footage showcased a mountain lion, coyotes, and indeed, grizzly bears.
One burning question from viewers of his post was how the battery lasted so long.
Someone commented: “Please tell me what batteries lasted 10 years!”
Casey responded: “I was shocked.”
When another post remarked, “So cool. Batteries lasted,” Casey clarified that the camera hadn’t been completely untouched during its extended vigil.
He explained: “Very cool. Bear knocked it over, so it was inactive for most of that time.”
Despite this, the camera managed to capture some remarkable footage.