That's a first!

       As a lifelong hunter, outdoors man, sometimes farmer, I've had much opportunity to observe wildlife. Observing is always the best part of hunting. When I was a teenager doing field work I took my lunch to the south, sunny side of the shelter belt...trees planted as a windbreak...out of the cold northwest wind. As I sat eating my lunch with a fence post as a backrest I looked up to see a skunk approaching. It was to close for me to safely move away so I sat very still. The skunk came and sniffed of my boots then ambled away in the direction it had been moving. A few years ago I sat resting in a snowy abandoned farmstead. A weasel, wearing it's winter white with only a black tip on it's tail and nose. came bounding by me. Today provided me with a first.
      Lisa and I were doing the "farmer thing" this morning, driving around inspecting crops. (I know a retired farmer who bought a new car with a guidance system so he can more safely look at crops.) Lisa and I were stopped on a dead-end road, considering property boundaries, when a young mink came loping toward us on the track.  A few feet in front of the truck he stopped, stood on his hind legs for a better look and then ran into the grass. Mink are extremely wary, largely nocturnal and seldom show themselves. A few years ago I was on the back of motorcycle in Thailand going to school and one ran across the road in front of us. (The proverbial "I saw a mink on the way to school."  😃 The mink didn't give us much time but Lisa did get a picture. (See below.)

   CROP REPORT:  Any self-respecting farmer would shudder to have corn than looks like mine. The lack of moisture early in it's growing means the corn is very uneven; some is tasseling while some is knee high. The slow growth means that the ground has not been shaded so there is much weed growth. Deer are not into delayed gratification so they've been grazing the young corn rather than waiting for the ears to develop. Regardless, there will be enough to provide a wildlife banquet this winter...which is my goal.

Takk for alt,

Al

Mr. Mink (or Miss)