Unexpected Encounter

 

 

With winter fully upon us the creek that borders two sides of the family farm has frozen sufficiently that it is mostly safe for walking.  I took advantage of the ice conditions yesterday to hike along one side of our farm looking for photo opportunities. 

 

 

The perspective one gets from walking on the water is quite different than what is available most of the year.

 

And the frozen water lends a different look to the scene as well.

 

As I was taking this walk looking for landscape shots and not wanting to be burdened down with heavy gear, I was carrying a Canon EOS 6D with a 24-105mm lens attached.  With that outfit I was unprepared for what was to happen next.

 

As I approached a small area of open rapids I noticed a small animal swimming in the water.  At first glance I thought muskrat but a moment later as it pulled itself out on the ice I could see that it was mink!  Now mink are not uncommon in my area but seeing one certainly is as they are a very secretive animal.  As the mink hadn't seemed to have noticed me I continued moving its way as it hurried along the shoreline towards me, searching for a meal.  While the smooth ice allowed me to walk quietly I was surprised that the mink as so engrossed with checking the shoreline that it didn't notice me walking towards it with no cover whatsoever.  I was able to get to within about forty feet of it before the ice cracked under my weight, making a hollow booming sound as the pressure crack seemed to run the length of the ice sheet.

With that the mink took notice of me and after staring me down for a moment wheeled, ran to the open water, and slipped in.  The encounter was over as quickly as it had began leaving me with both memories and images of a rare sighting in the Pennsylvania Outdoors.

 

Morning Suprise: Mink Encounter

Deciding to accompany Willard for a morning wildlife photoshoot at the meadows, I arrived there as he was finishing setting up his equipment.  Soon after settling in comfortably I noticed a cottontail rabbit running away from us down the access road.  After going maybe twenty yards it made a 90 degree turn disappearing into the high grass.  Thinking nothing of it I looked back to the meadow only to hear Willard exclaim "Look at That!"  I turned to see a mink running down the path the rabbit had followed.  Swinging the camera into position I was ready when the mink paused where the rabbit had made the turn.

In a moment the mink figured out the rabbit's evasive move and again took off on its scent trail.

 A few minutes later movement to my left caught my attention and I turned just in time to see the rabbit running full out pass by directly behind us.  The rabbit was in full panic mode as it sped past only a few feet away disappearing into the old barn and only a couple of seconds later the mink followed in pursuit.

The action was breaking so fast that I was unable to achieve focus as the mink rushed our position!

When only a few yards away the mink suddenly became aware of our presence; stopping momentarily before reversing direction as rapidly as it had approached.  Here you can see the initial escape leap as the mink began fleeing.

Thinking of this encounter I believe that the little rabbit owes its life to our presence this morning as there is absolutely nowhere that a rabbit could go where the mink could not follow.  And then again looking at the encounter another way I guess the mink could blame us for its hunger pangs brought on by a missed meal.

I was fully intending to continue today with yesterday's wetland encounters but after this heart racing encounter with a creature so rarely seen I simply had to share this extraordinary encounter today.