"A Sand County Almanac"

"THERE ARE SOME WHO CAN LIVE WITHOUT WILD THINGS AND SOME WHO CANNOT."
"FOR US IN THE MINORITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE GEESE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TELEVISION.".....Aldo Leopold




"LOOK DEEP INTO NATURE, AND THEN YOU WILL UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING BETTER".....Albert Einstein


“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves”.....John Muir


Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Mink Mating Season Is Here


February and March are the mating season for American Mink in our area.  As a result they are more active than usual with the males traveling long distances in search of receptive females.  This increase in activity makes them more visible to observers and photographers. On a recent morning I photographed a mink gathering leaves and dried grass to line her nest.  Perhaps in anticipation of giving birth in March or April...

 
 
 
 
On another encounter I photographed this mink with fresh wounds on the back of her neck.  Their mating process is violent, with the male typically biting the female on the nape of the neck and pinning her with his forefeet...
 
The mink in the next two photos shows evidence of recent injury to its’ left rear leg.  Possibly from fighting with another male...
 
 
The mink in this photo are probably males fighting over territory...
 
This mink is rubbing its’ chin, throat, and chest on a log.  They have scent glands in these areas and this is thought to be a method of communicating with others...


In the same area, I found two mink with freshly caught rainbow trout and sunfish...

 



One of the most advantageous traits of the mink is that, like its’ cousins the weasel and wolverine, it is fearless and does not retreat in the presence of humans.  In many of the photos I have taken the mink is looking at me with no indication of alarm...



 
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3 comments:

  1. Magique cette rencontre, si bien illustrée!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Steve
    What a great pictures, specialy with the big fish.
    Greetings Bets

    ReplyDelete

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