While I was biking around the Eempolders, where I didn’t really see anything extraordinary, I suddenly spotted something about 100 meters away, walking on the metal fence. By its behavior and especially its color, I could tell it wasn’t a mouse or a rat. After all, this little critter was too big for a mouse. I quickly grabbed my binoculars, and that’s when I immediately recognized it was a stoat. The distinct black plume on its tail!
The little guy was scampering from one side of the fence to the other, poking its nose into every nook and cranny, probably searching for a mouse or something of the sort. I snapped some initial photos from a distance, right there on the bike path, but eventually, I decided to hop a few fences and get as close as possible without making a sound. And it worked! As I got closer, it either smelled or heard me, and this beautiful creature sat still for a photo! If you look closer, it looks like it is missing its right eye? Maybe it happened during a fight? Infection maybe? Its behavior looked normal. Quick on his feet and aware of the surroundings.
I’ve seen some stoats (or weasels) crossing my path before (maybe a couple of times..), but I never had the chance to capture a photo, let alone have a stoat pose so nicely. It was a beautiful moment, and luckily, I got it on camera!
