It was in the upper 40s and sunny yesterday. It’s been a very mild winter in the Greater Cleveland Area. Though there have been warmer days in the past 5 weeks, I never really apply myself to searching for herps at this time of the year. So I was unprepared as I was walking along an area near the Cuyahoga River when I saw a Midland Painted Turtle. I thought maybe it was a “rebel reptile” in denial of winter. But about a half mile further down I saw two more Painteds.
I debated if I should walk a mile and a half back to the car, drive home (about 15 minutes), get the camera and walk a mile and a half back to get some photos. It was already late afternoon and the sun wouldn’t be out for that much longer. I decided to get the camera – even if the turtles were gone when I returned, it still was a nice (relatively speaking) day to be outside.
Well, the reptiles were long gone, but I did mange to get a few decent photos of this mammal that I’ve only seen once before in the wild – a Mink:
Mink are dark-colored, semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals related to weasels, skunks and ferrets. The mink has a long, sleek body about two feet long. Lithe and agile, it pursues its prey on land and in water. It can swim and dive with ease and remain underwater for many minutes.
The mink is prized by the trapper both for its fur and for the great skill required to capture it. They have a distinct path of white on the chin.
To the wildlife enthusiast, the sight of this elusive furbearer is a thrilling surprise that must be experienced quickly, before the dynamic creature can scurry away to a place of concealment.
