Backyard wildlife

Sometimes you don't have to go looking very far for interesting wildlife pictures. Every once in awhile they just appear in your backyard.

No, it's not the backyard of my house. These pictures were taken at the small creek that flows right beside the building where the offices of the South Dakota Department of Tourism and State Development are located. I shot all these this morning within an hour's time and barely walked a block.

Some wood ducks and a flying mallard...




...and a very curious and cooperative mink that at one point came so close I was worried about him running up my pantleg.


Yesterday a doe whitetail deer wandered through the same area.

So I guess the moral of the story is keep your eyes open, don't rule anything out and always be ready with that camera!