Otters

Mink live all along the Sable River at the Ludington State Park. This adult mink was busy finding food for its young. I watched this family of five hunt crayfish and chase each other for over an hour before making this photograph.

Coming face to face with this otter startled me even though I had spotted it a few minutes earlier as it moved between two ponds near the north end of the Island Trail. Figuring where the otter might be, I had stealthily snuck nearly to the edge of the pond when the big otter popped up less than 10 yards away. I jumped back but regrouped in time to get off one quick shot before the equally startled otter dove back under water.

With one of her youngsters safely tucked behind her, an adult otter clutched her other baby after a swimming and food hunting expedition on the Leland River at Fish Town. A mooring line ran between them. The scene reminded me of swimmers hugging between lanes after finishing a race. I am certain this was an emotional moment for the otters.

A mother otter looks back to make certain her other baby is coming after a swim at Fish Town in Leland, Michigan. The otter family lives on the far side of the Leland River, away from most of the businesses in Fish Town, affording privacy from the hundreds of people usually enjoying Fish Town. F2.8 at 1/800, ISO 800, 80-200mm lens at 200mm