We were out this weekend (not fishing) but hunting Marsh Hens. We were just north of IOP across from Caper’s Inlet. This was our first time hunting rails, and really our first time deep in that marsh.
After getting the hang of things, we had a few birds bagged and we were still poling around looking for a few others. We were at least a 1/2 mile from any solid ground, probably more like a full mile. The tide was starting to fall and the grass was getting thicker in most patches.
We came up on a dead grass patch that was floating and we both noticed something running across the dead mat, that quickly disappeared behind some taller grass. We immediately both started questioning each other to confirm we each saw it.
My mind immediately identified it as a cat at quick glance, but that made no sense. There is no way a cat would have been out that far (besides, don’t they hate water?). My hunting partner immediately thought it was a muskrat, but we also decided against that idea too.
The animal was black or dark brown, and from what we could tell a solid color. It was long a slender, and appeared to look almost like a ferret.
I don’t know much about ferrets or marsh creatures, but just wanted to get some opinions about what we might have seen. We have both spent plenty of time fishing around IOP and Charleston, and never seen anything like that before. We chalked it up to being a baby otter or something and continued hunting. When I got home, I looked up otters to see if there was any resemblance, and that turned out to be a negative.
james island, both of em. girlfriend’s grandfather believes the repopulation effort has been successful around his part of JI- due to sightings of them eating the heads off diamondback terrapins. he roots for the underdog, and isn’t too fond of the mink numbers increasing!
How can you tell the difference between a Mink and an Otter? I’m guessing size? That one picture above looks like an awfully large Mink, may be an Otter?
How can you tell the difference between a Mink and an Otter? I’m guessing size? That one picture above looks like an awfully large Mink, may be an Otter?
I agree with the mink, if it moved cat-like. We mostly fish around Port Royal and we usually see both otters and minks every trip. An otter is much larger with a long thick tail.
