June 13, 2010 - Meeting Mink

Welcome to the Nature Notebook.

Bounding from the woods with its peculiar diagonal gait, the mink approached the creek separating us. Without hesitating it dove into the swirling water. Reaching the rocks at my feet it began to investigate, diving underwater or disappearing into crevices between rocks. If it sensed me, it wasn’t bothered in the slightest. These efficient predators are fearless. I had met mink before. Once when rounding a bend on a trail I met a mink face to face. We looked at each other for a few moments before the mink continued on its way. That’s typical of a mink. Now is a good time to see mink along ponds and watercourses as they hunt for crayfish, frogs, turtles or muskrats. You might spot a mink hunting or see its playful side as it slides down rocks and slippery banks.

This is PPL's naturalist, Jon Beam, with the Nature Notebook for WVIA.