For much of this long cold winter most of the mammals seemed to be hunkered down keeping warm but as the winter was winding down and the temperatures finally began to rise a little, it was delightful to see some of nature’s furry creatures venture out.

One of a pair of coyotes that was strolling along the edge of the river in broad daylight.

I was driving along one of our local rivers one morning watching for any birds or critters that might be lurking along the shoreline. As my eyes caught some movement on the ice shelf that lined the far side of the river I was very surprised to see two coyotes strolling along. It was unusual to see them out in the open during broad daylight. I knew this sighting would not last long once they knew I had seen them. Sure enough, before I could get properly positioned they were already aware of my presence and were heading for cover. It was fortunate that I had the camera handy and ready to go so I was able to get in a couple of shots of them. Within seconds they had disappeared into the brush not to be seen again. 

A few days later it was a very similar situation with a speedy little mink. I had driven down a long winding dirt road to check on a local eagle nest. As I checked along the shoreline of the waterway I caught sight of something small moving along the edge of the open water. It was a furtive little mink scurrying along the edge of the ice. If there is anything harder to catch up to than a coyote it is a mink. I have more shots of a mink’s tail end going out of the frame than any other animal. They are very fast moving and are always watching for any danger around them. The mink immediately knew I was there and went into stealth mode. It darted in and out of the shoreline brush. It was a challenge to get a step ahead of it to get a shot in as it headed for its den in a pile of brush at the edge of the water.

A young white-tailed deer out on its own possibly for the first time in its young life.

Farther down the road I came across another fleet-of-foot creature, but this one was a little easier to capture shots of. It was one of last year’s fawns, now out on its own, possibly for the first time in its young life. You could still see the youth and innocence in its eyes as it munched on the sparse vegetation recently uncovered as the snow melted away. I hope it learns quickly to be more cautious as it lingered longer than it should have in my presence. 

A cheeky squirrel looks quite comfortable as it peers out of its hole in a tree. 

I always check every hole in a tree that may be home to an elusive screech owl. Ninety-nine per cent of them turn out to be empty but my heart skipped a beat as I saw a grey figure in this one. I quickly got the camera on it and had to laugh at myself as I clicked the first image. Looking back at me from the hole was the cutest little squirrel ever. It was leaning on its elbow on the entrance of the hole as if to say, “Howdy, would you like to come in for a cup of tea?” 

A river otter enjoying a fish snack on the edge of an ice shelf.

Last of the furry creatures was another shot of the otter on the edge of the ice munching on a small fish. They are one creature that I generally see more of in the winter. Once the snow and ice are gone they blend in so much better and are much harder to spot.

© Peterborough Examiner