Although there is no video or picture, Ted looked spectacular tonight after dark in his den surrounded by deer mice. 
Male minkEven the mice looked spectacular with their dark bodies against the light straw and wood and their eyes glowing as they climbed walls and scampered through the straw with their big ears. Ted slept through it all and did not slap at them like Holly or Lily do. The good infra-red light made it easy to count his breaths that were down to 1.73 per minute—one every 34.7 seconds on the average. The slowest I’ve ever counted was one every 45 seconds back in the old days after a summer of scarce food. I’m learning something, seeing Ted’s slow rate.
Editor's note: After Dr. Rogers went home, I signed on to Ted's cam and notice him eating straw. Thought it odd so I recorded a bit for the record. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZG9nXY0kGc
Out the window, we witnessed a major heist of bacon—4 raids in less than 2 hours. With the temperature in the 40’s F, it was easy for Mr. Mink to grab big hunks of bacon and make off with them under the cover of rain. In the picture of him biting a big piece notice the white lower jaw and white chest patch that identifies him. They’re not always easy to see. Notice the small ears and long neck. He dragged the bacon down the stairs and across the parking area to disappear behind the boiler shed. We suspect he is living under it. He was cautious and furtive about it all, as if he were doing something wrong, but he is welcome to all the bacon he can eat.
A neighbor a half mile away also has a mink coming for the chicken wings they buy for the gray foxes, pine martens, and mink they see. I don’t know if we are sharing those animals or if there are enough to go around. In this nature-loving community, people love seeing animals, including bears.
A big thank you to Trish Kirk and those who gave donations in memory of Trish’s husband of 20 years—Tim Muench. Trish and Tim were instrumental in starting the Education Outreach Program, including the Black Bear Boxes and the Speakers Bureau. They asked that the money be used to continue this program that was near and dear to Trish and Tim’s hearts. Tim was always fun and hard-working, making the boxes that Trish and others developed for the Bear Center. All much appreciated and part of our long-term plan for education.
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Thank you for all you do.
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center