A place of peace and solitude for many, the great outdoors are a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of society. Robert Bush Sr. is one of those people who loves wildlife, so much so that he lives near a forest in rural Pennsylvania. One day, the idea struck him to set up a hidden camera in a perfect spot to capture all kinds of wildlife: at the end of a log in a river. Read on to see what wild animals he captured on film over the course of a year.
This Is Outdoorsman Bob
Meet Robert Bush Sr., a lover of the outdoors who lives in Pennsylvania. As you can see from this selfie, Robert is very fond of the forest. He loves to visit the mountains, which offer him access to lakes, trees, and wild animals all year.
Robert, referred to more casually as Bob, decided to share his wildlife outings with the world by setting up a hidden camera in the perfect place to spot wildlife: the edge of a log.
A Black Bear Doesn't Have A Clue It's Being Filmed
Bob positioned the camera at the end of the log this black bear is trying to climb onto. It was a perfect spot because what animal wouldn't want to avoid crossing a river by scampering across a log?
This black bear had no idea it was being filmed. It seemed far more concerned with getting out of the water than with what was in the bushes. Being this close to a black bear would be terrifying if not for technology.
Bear Cubs Cross In A Line
At a different time in the day, another large bear crossed the log, only this one was brown instead of black. Moments after the adult bear crossed, three bear cubs followed in line, separated by several feet.
The entire family of bears passed right next to the camera, something that wouldn't likely happen near a human. If it had been Bob standing there, they likely would have kept their distance, but the hidden camera showed their more natural way of living.
This Deer Nearly Blends Into The Background
The expression "like a deer in headlights" didn't come from nowhere. If this deer thought a human was nearby, it would probably freeze or scamper away. Thanks to the camera, we can see it up close and free of anxiety.
The image also captures how much the color of the deer blends in with the surrounding branches. At first glance, it may have even taken a moment to distinguish the animal from the rest of the forest scenery.
Colorful Birds Perch On The Log
This image shows two colorful birds sitting on the log. At first glance they look like ducks you'd see on any old lake, but if you look closer you can see that the bird closest to us has a uniquely shaped head.
The bold colors on their feathers really pop against the brown shades of the water, land, and log. Though the striking colors of birds make them stand out as mates, it also makes them more noticeable to fellow forest creatures.
A Feral Cat Meows As It Crosses
Of all the wildlife we've seen cross the log so far, this feral cat seems the most perturbed. It appears to be meowing or hissing as it makes its way across the log. It's looking rather wide-eyed at something to the right of the camera.
It can be easy to think of cats as domesticated animals, but the look in this cat's eyes is a reminder that they can still be quite wild.
The Cat Is Almost Looking Into The Camera
This cat nearly did what no other animal has: look into the camera. You can tell by its open mouth and fixed gaze that the feral cat is hissing at something, likely as a defense or a warning.
Its eyes are looking very nearly at the camera, but just off to the side. It's possible that it either noticed a part of the equipment or was addressing something else that was located near the camera.
A Squirrel Approaches The Water
While many of us have probably seen a squirrel or two, they move so quickly that you don't always get to view it for very long. In this photo, you can see that it blends in quite well with its surrounding, like the deer had.
You can learn a lot about animals by merely observing them. Bob enjoys watching animals as he finds them amusing, but warns on his Facebook page that it has nothing to do with a desire to hunt.
A Rodent Crossing The Log Is Hard To Identify
This little brown animal is slightly blurred out since it was moving so fast in the video. We have a feeling it's some sort of rodent, but our hats are off to you if you can name it with certainty.
As we mentioned, Bob is a true lover of nature who does not with to support hunting, but rather to ignite a fascination of wildlife in others. He aims to keep his Facebook page free of hunting pictures and comments.
A Raccoon Carefully Crosses The Water
Another thing Bob does to protect the integrity of his page is keeping the log's location hidden. This way his followers can't go and disrupt the peace of the animals and they can continue behaving authentically.
This raccoon looks almost nervous as it makes its way across the log, tentatively looking down. Like squirrels, raccoons are relatively prevalent in populated areas, but there's something different about seeing one in nature as opposed to in your garbage can.
A Heron Stands Directly In Front Of The Camera
An elegant bird with a large body and very long neck found its way in front of the camera and also seems oblivious to the fact it's being filmed. Like the feral cat we saw a few images ago, this heron seems to have a fixed gaze on something out of the camera's line of vision.
Though Bob doesn't make any money from sharing these animal videos, he wrote in a Facebook post that, "the joy they bring all of you, and why you all enjoy them is priceless."
Now You Can See The Birds Fully
In the previous photograph, we weren't able to see all of the bird's features since it was too close to the camera. This image, however, looks like it was taken by a professional photographer with how perfectly timed it is.
It's as though the heron was posing for the camera. Even the way it is perched shows off its flexible neck. While we knew that its neck was long, here we can see that the beak and legs are also very lengthy.
This Black Bear Seems To Be Looking Right At You
The first black bear we saw was walking across the log in the opposite direction of this one, which is coming right at the camera. Though it's likely just looking straight ahead, it seems as though it's looking straight into the lens.
There's something eerie about looking a bear straight in the eyes, even if it's not in person. At the same time, it's also magnificent to be able to do so thanks to modern technology.
A Crow Looks Unfazed
This crow doesn't appear to be worried about a thing as it's perched on the log. Though many people are familiar with some of these animals, it's nice to see them in their natural habitat.
One follower of Bob's said that his Facebook page "gives me so much peace. I grew up in the woods of PA and miss it. Watching his videos is the best escape and meditation you could do from the modern world."
A Deer Nears The Snowy Log
You may have noticed in that last few pictures that there was a bit of snow forming around the log that wasn't present in the first images. That's because Bob films year-round, so his first images of summer have made their way to winter.
This photograph captures a deer looking at the river, which is now iced over but not frozen solid. The log is entirely covered with snow which seems to be giving the deer a pause.
This Cat Is On The Prowl
Bob's videos not only show the changing seasons, but his camera also has night vision to expose what goes on in the forest at night. Here we can see a feral cat, which may be the same one pictured earlier.
The cat is leaned down low to the ground with its bottom in the air. It looks as though it's getting ready to pounce on something, but for all we know it could just be getting a good stretch.
A Coyote Is Caught Across The River
This photo captured a coyote in the distance. It appears as though it's going to walk right past the log, but this next photograph will reveal that it decided to cross the river after all.
Fellow animal lovers find Bob's videos mesmerizing. One commenter wrote, "What a wonderful life this man has." Another wrote, "A lovely slice of the natural world." It is rare to see wildlife completely unfazed by humans.
The Same Coyote Pauses Before The Camera
This image is one you probably wouldn't be able to catch without a hidden camera or a night vision camera with a powerful zoom capability. The coyote is so close that if there were a cameraman, he'd be able to reach out and touch it.
Obviously, doing so wouldn't be such a great idea. But that's what makes Bob's setup so wonderful; he gives people the illusion of being invisible in the forest as though they could be near wildlife undetected.
A Raccoon Looks Extra Forbidding At Night
Another image shows a raccoon looking a little different than they do when they're rummaging through trash cans. While the daytime image made the raccoon look more in its element, this one makes it look more forbidding.
It's probably because the camera's night vision caused the eyes to glow in a way that looks straight out of a horror film. In all actuality, it's probably just skipping along and trying not to get noticed.
A Bear Cub Indicates Its Mother Should Be Nearby
This image is one of our favorites because even though it's a bear at night (which would normally be intimidating), it looks rather adorable. A bear cub wandering on its own is an indication that its mama bear may be nearby, but since there isn't actually a human around, we don't have to worry.
The videos enable us to enjoy nature without fearing for our safety. As one of Bob's Facebook followers put it, the videos are "very healing for the head and the heart."
