27 replies to this topic

[Josh Blaylock]

"no Covid in the creeks" ... mink are susceptible to Covid.  I wonder if otters are too?

Just don't kiss'em, Casper

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[L Link]

"no Covid in the creeks" ... mink are susceptible to Covid.  I wonder if otters are too?

An intriguing point, actually. We do have minks as well, though I hadn’t heard of minks having issues outside of Utah and Europe. I guess I’ll have to be sure not to inhale any mustelid breath!

[Casper]

Lock wrote the nice adventure article featured in a recent American Currents.  I enjoy those articles most when i get my newest issue every 3 months.  And it was fun spending a bit of time along the Cement Pond with Gerald while he was working a survey in my hometown.  And he made an interesting discovery while in the Tennessee River watershed... Rainbows.  Surely somebody releasing bait bucket pretty minnows.

 

Let's all have a nice year forthcoming.

 

No worries for me with otters, beavers or weasels.  I did see a super cute YouTube of a young adopted beaver.  Just type in a search and spend hours smiling.  I remember Dr. Roston had a nice video of a young beaver sitting along a creek.  But YouTube has a lot of pet beavers building dams in the living room.

[Isaac Szabo]

There is actually a resident mink at my local snorkeling hole. It has approached me quite closely - within a couple of feet on several occasions. It's very cool to watch it swim and hunt underwater. One time I saw it come out from under a boulder with a large crayfish and then take it up on shore to eat. I've wanted to get some good underwater photos of it, but so far I haven't had much luck (it's a very fast swimmer, and it doesn't stay still for long).

[L Link]

Whoa, I’ve seen one wild but can’t imagine swimming with one. Hopefully one day soon, must be amazing.

[Isaac Szabo]

Yeah, it was a really cool experience. I didn't realize how aquatic they are. Very much like a miniature otter. 

[Michael Wolfe]

There is actually a resident mink at my local snorkeling hole. It has approached me quite closely - within a couple of feet on several occasions. It's very cool to watch it swim and hunt underwater. One time I saw it come out from under a boulder with a large crayfish and then take it up on shore to eat. I've wanted to get some good underwater photos of it, but so far I haven't had much luck (it's a very fast swimmer, and it doesn't stay still for long).

I was remembering our momentary otter encounter and thinking that it was hard to get within 6 feet of those speedy dudes

[Isaac Szabo]

For sure! There's no keeping up with them, so for a close encounter they have to come to you.