"ONLY CATCH & EAT - NO RELEASE"

Mink (North American) - 6 Photos

Certain that most wildlife photographers have experienced at least once, the situation where out of nowhere, wildlife pops up suddenly nearby and in that split second, you are so shocked that you freeze for a brief moment. 

I knew the mink had gone upstream and was expecting his return just across from me & the water, when from behind some fallen logs just over a foot away, a little head appeared, looked directly in my direction and did a blink/blink. I missed the face on photo but luckily, the mink was intent on checking out the creek and planning his next move, so he turned for that profile pose (Photo #1). 

And then he was back into the water, swimming into the grasses lining the creek and it wasn't long before success (Photo #2 & Photo #3). 

Back he came, catch in mouth (Photo #4 through Photo #6) where he retreated to a safe location to dine on the Prussian Carp. A short time passed and then he reappeared & disappeared again, presumably to have a mink nap. 

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6