Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, and what better gift to receive than “completely unexpected and rarely seen” nature? This is part 2 of a recent, late afternoon stop at East Ave Boat Launch in Erie, Pennsylvania, featuring – of all things! – an amazingly beautiful American Mink (Neogale vison) swimming in an icy Lake Erie! Minks are semi-aquatic and adept swimmers, so this is probably foraging behaviour (trying to catch fish?)
Less than ideal photo quality due to poor lighting conditions, but still so great to see!
[Editor’s note: updated species name from Mustela vison to Neogale vison to reflect recent changes in the taxonomy. “Following a definitive 2021 mitogenome analysis, the species was reclassified into the genus Neogale. This genus now includes the American mink, the extinct sea mink, and several New World weasel species.” Per Google.]
What great shots of the mink. Really thought it was an otter from the photos posted before! Nice to see the mink enjoying a winters day! Any idea of what the population is?
A River Otter certainly would have been more exotic – rarely seen, even less so than American Mink.
Vaguely recall Mink are stable population-wise (i.e., not rare/endangered), but no idea how many of them are around. They are fairly reclusive, so typically only a few sightings per year (in the case of BirdingPI.com staff) and then only briefly. Rare to see one for such a relatively long time period.
The photos are amazing! Love the action scenes!
When I worked at zoo, I used to take care of two river otters, Stella and Horatio.
One day I was trying to get Horatio to jump for a fish and I have the scar on my leg to prove that – yes, he got the fish because when he bit me, the fish was dropped, and yes, that was not one of my best ideas 💡
Lol. Have to be careful when giving the dog a handout of cheese toast (e.g., lunging bite), and that’s a domestic, let alone a wild animal.
We had River Otters at the Santa Barbara Zoo, not that I was involved directly in their care. I just remember the fish smell 🙂
There are definitely River Otters locally, even at Presque Isle, but never had a sighting in 6+ years. (Mink is maybe once or twice a year. And Beavers fairly regularly.) Maybe one day!