Long-tailed Weasel looking back over its shoulder from a road – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I have shared photos of this Long-tailed Weasel before but I liked these four images that I hadn’t edited and wanted to share them today. I found and pointed out this Long-tailed Weasel near a burrow in the dirt road of the auto tour route at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in August of 2015. I can’t say for sure that the burrow in the road belonged to the weasel but I did see the weasel come out of it.
I liked how the weasel was standing and looking back over its shoulder. The setting? Not so much yet this is where I found this fuzzy creature.
Long-tailed Weasel in front of a burrow in a road – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1600, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This photo shows the Long-tailed Weasel in front of the burrow in the road. As I recall it was hot that day and I had issues with heat waves from the road making it difficult to lock focus on the weasel in addition to not having the best light angle.
Long-tailed Weasel standing in tall grasses – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Of this series of four images I liked this photo of the weasel standing up and looking towards me from the tall grasses next to the shoulder of the auto tour route the most. Even though the weasel is small in the frame the image has a dreamy quality to it that I find appealing. The light angle was a whole lot better too!
Long-tailed Weasel sniffing excrement in the road – Nikon D810, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 640, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When I reviewed these Long-tailed Weasel photos after taking them I missed seeing something in this photo. When I looked at the images again recently I noticed that this photo shows the weasel is sniffing bird excrement in the road. I’m not sure how I missed seeing that whitewash in the road. I can’t unsee it now.
An interesting fact about Long-tailed Weasels is that they mate between July and August and because of delayed implantation of the fertilized egg into the uterine wall they don’t give birth until 10 months later with embryonic development of the kits occurring only during the last four weeks of the gestation period.
I find Long-tailed Weasels way more often than I am able to photograph them because these weasels move fast. My best opportunities with Long-tailed Weasels have happened when I am already parked and using a vehicle as a mobile blind and they show up while I am photographing other subjects which is what happened when I saw this one.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Long-tailed Weasel photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great pics! Weasels are fun critters. I love how their coats get so beautifully white in the winter. Thanks Mia.
Absolutely great shots! Beautiful images!!
We have a Weasel here, but I only get a glimpse of him/her from time to time. We have a healthy vole population I think, because we don’t put poisons around our garden. We don’t seem to have trouble with voles in the spring, summer or early fall, come late fall to winter, oh yes they are here, but we don’t really mind. Stay safe!!!
Cute photos of a fast animal. If I see one it is gone before I can get my camera ready! It am using driving thru an area, I don’t sit and wait for hours. Glad you do.
I do love photos of these cuties and really envy you locations where mobile blind shooting is possible.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a weasel in my travels…looks a bit similar to the mink I see in my area. I love all the shots, but the one where it’s standing erect in the tall grasses captures the focus or concern on his face…he’s definitely checking you out. And those BIG paws! So cute! Hope to see one in WY next year!
They are so cute and hard to capture photos of.
Cute little bugger !! I have never seen one in the wild….perhaps someday.
Yet another beauty that we don’t have and I will probably never see for myself. Thank you.
It is so great to see this small animal, one usually never seen– but around in many places.
I agree, that standing weasel shot is wonderfully evocative, with his little paws held forward, and the light just picking the fine fur outline of his ears. Beautiful.