20180116 Mink Kills Cottontail
Nature unfolded before our eyes in a most dramatic and deadly way when we observed an American Mink attack and kill an Eastern Cottontail. The entire event lasted about five minutes. It began shortly after we observed the Mink run across our property and hide under the garden shed, or so we thought. A few seconds later the Cottontail burst out from under the shed with the Mink latched on to its hind leg. On a couple of occasions, the Cottontail broke free from the Mink's jaws, but it could not run fast enough to escape with the Mink quickly catching up and biting into the same hind leg. What followed was a dramatic and confusing battle where the Mink chased and bit the Cottontail.
Soon the battle climaxed at a particular spot when the Mink got a better grip on the Cottontail. Then the Mink appeared to snap the neck of the Cottontail which killed it instantly. For a brief few seconds the Mink disappeared, apparently looking for a suitable protected area to hide the Cottontail carcass. Not finding one in the immediate area, the Mink proceeded to drag the carcass over a distance of about 100 feet and then dragged it under the garden shed. It would remain there to feed and returned to feed some more on the next day.
Later on the day of the kill, I ventured out to photograph the kill site, tracks and sign. Normally this is what I would find during tracking and then interpret the kill event based on the tracks and sign. It is rare to observe the actual kill and then be able to accurately interpret the kill site. While it was a great learning experience, it was still a sober reminder of how harsh the real world is in nature.
(Photographed January 16, 2018 on private property, Emily Township, City of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada)
Read MoreSoon the battle climaxed at a particular spot when the Mink got a better grip on the Cottontail. Then the Mink appeared to snap the neck of the Cottontail which killed it instantly. For a brief few seconds the Mink disappeared, apparently looking for a suitable protected area to hide the Cottontail carcass. Not finding one in the immediate area, the Mink proceeded to drag the carcass over a distance of about 100 feet and then dragged it under the garden shed. It would remain there to feed and returned to feed some more on the next day.
Later on the day of the kill, I ventured out to photograph the kill site, tracks and sign. Normally this is what I would find during tracking and then interpret the kill event based on the tracks and sign. It is rare to observe the actual kill and then be able to accurately interpret the kill site. While it was a great learning experience, it was still a sober reminder of how harsh the real world is in nature.
(Photographed January 16, 2018 on private property, Emily Township, City of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, Canada)
