We put some smoked turkey skin out on the riverbank today and the mink showed up right away to eat it. This is the first good look we've had at it, and it's not terribly afraid of us when it is intent on eating.




Minks eat small rodents. So at one point while it was eating one of the ground squirrels came along. The mink chased it toward me and they ran between my feet. I had visions of ankle biting so gave a yelp and jumped aside. There was a squeak from either the mink or its prey after they got past me, then the mink ran back to the food, not quite straight at me. Here is a blurry photo of it while I was still scared.



We are glad to see it and that it is not a river otter because fish are not the main diet for minks - they also eat rodents and snakes and sometimes birds. Very exciting.

Comments:

What I've heard about minks is that they are disagreeable
little critters. I am fond of squirrels. Are they a real
nuisance?

Great pics, Laura! I think I read that minks are the most predatory animals. Did you feel his fur when be ran by? I'll bet it wasn't as soft as the coats are.

Very very good pictures. Are minks rodents?

Cool!

How nifty. Good post and pics. I enjoyed them.

I don't think have ever seen a mink outside of a cage before. How cool