[ApS]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

Last fall we saw a mink and in the winter a weasel, both near the house. This year we have not seen a single chipmunk where in past years we had a healthy population.

Minks are the most aquatic of that family of critters. My guess would be that mink started expanding their range here about twenty years ago when people started using "dock-bubblers" to keep their docks reasonably ice-free.

"My" mink will make a burrow within a few yards of open water. The burrow's entrance is slightly larger than the typical chipmunk burrow. In Spring, you'll see piles of empty mussel shells stacked or scattered under those "open" docks. In snow, the mink's muddy pathway to the lake's open water is readily apparent: by comparison, the entrance to a chipmunk's burrow is neat and clean.

Originally Posted by KonaChick

We have a mink family that's been living under our lower level porch for 7 years now. I think mink are longer and skinnier than otter. I did not realize we even had otter here...anyone?

Below, you'll see a photograph I borrowed showing an otter as it slid into the lake at Wolfeboro's bridge downtown in mid-August. Otters are bigger than all the other aquatic critters mentioned here, and poses no threat to other mammals. Otters feed nearly exclusively on fish.

Both are on the skinny side, but mink are definitely smaller—even tiny in comparison. Weasels are about 50% larger than red squirrels, and can have a coat that can change to a lighter coat (or lighter "highlights") as Fall approaches.

Originally Posted by Chickie

"...I had a close encounter with either a mink or a weasel a few years back, which I’ve never forgotten. I don’t know which it was as they look so much alike..."

Minks are pretty small. I watched as one ran out from under a deck, paused on top of a rock, then silently dove into the lake and disappeared. Weasels are larger and curious. With camera in hand, I surprised a weasel on my porch. It immediately ran over and examined my shoes!

There does seem to be a correlation between the quantity of chipmunks and the presence of those weaselly-carnivores. (Which may hold true for red squirrel numbers, too).

Except for black bear and bobcat, we've seen most of what Mother Nature has in the Winnipesaukee area: Most of Nature's visits is by chipmunks—and most often by "Alfie".

"Alfie" will alert me to an empty bird feeder by perching on a porch chair and staring through the porch window. (Where my computer is located). If I'm too busy to respond, he will sit up and beg. When Alfie's feeling totally ignored, he will start glaring and put one or two paws on the window until I comply.

I really got Alfie trained, huh?