While drinking our morning coffee at our campsite we watched as this little Ermine pass by carrying a chipmunk as large as they were. Unfortunelty we had no camera in hand. A few minutes latter the Ermine scurried past us in the direction in which they just came from. Within a few minutes there returned again carrying a Chipmunk. Still no camera in hand. However when we saw the Ermine return again heading the same direction I grabbed my camera and was able to capture them caring their third successful catch back to their nest. It was a tough day to be a Chipmunk and a good day for the Ermine pups.
nature has no boss 
Wow! Ringside seats!
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and those ringside seats were not too expensive as well.
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Even better!
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Indeed.
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You caught the photo as well as the ermine caught the poor old chipmunk!
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Thanks, it was fun to witness. Hope you have a wonderful long weekend.
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Thanks Mike it was good!
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Same here.
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As my wife says “Everybody has to eat.”
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and sometimes more than once a day.
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Wow – what a great nature show you were witness to. I’ll bet it was fascinating to watch. Thanks for posting the picture.
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Hi and thanks for the feedback. It was indeed a wonderful experience and we enjoy sharing what we see out there. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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Loved this story, Mike, and the photo is incredible. I have never seen an ermine, what a delightful experience for you both. Beautiful creature.
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Hi Jet and thanks. It was quite a sight and one of those once in a lifetime things. Very fun. Have a wonderful weekend.
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Amazing
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Hi and it was a wonderful experience.
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Wow, pretty amazing! They must have come upon a whole family. I’ve heard they massacre all they can and then deal with the bodies. Gruesome, but law of the jungle.
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Yes, it’s survival of the fittest. I hope there are plenty of chipmunks to go around. I just love your pictures of birds and animals, Mike; most of them we don’t have here in Australia.
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Hi Mary it is a curious thing but sooner or latter we do all become food for something else on this planet. Thanks for the kind words and we will keep posting what we see while out and about and are glad to share what we see. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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Hi Eliza, they are amazing little hunters and you do have t feed the family. I ned to find out if they cache the food for latter.
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Wow! third time lucky!
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Yes the third time was a charm. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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Great pic. Stoats are public enemy number one in NZ due to the impact they’ve had on native birds (plus ferrets, rats, mice, possums) but it is still great to see them doing what they do in the place they’re meant to do it…without manmade interference.
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Hi Graham, I can only imagine the damage introduced stoats would have on an island population not evolved to land predators. I will always remember on BBC documentary scene where a stoat chased down a very large rabbit and easily won the battle. Amazing little animals in the right place.
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, mighty little critter
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Yes a little superhero type of mighty. Hope your day goes well and wishing you a great weekend.
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& you as well
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So far so good.
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I am so happy you got your camera (third time lucky for you and the ermine)! I have never seen one so count yourself lucky!
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Hi, it was one of those events were I could have just sat there and enjoyed the show without grabbing a camera. I am glad I did as even though the memory would have been good enough a photos is a nice thing to have. Hope you get to see one of these little guys someday.
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…definitely not a good day to be a chipmunk…:(
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That’s for sure. After getting three I can’t imagine he would need more for the day. Perhaps he was caching them for the lean times?
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