Midnight snack

Alex Badyaev's Image

Alexander’s research cabin in the Blackfoot Valley, Montana, USA, is permanently occupied.

But not by him. He just goes there every so often to work. Instead a range of forest creatures makes full use of the shelter and food remains. He doesn’t see much of them, but there are always signs, particularly in the kitchen. ‘I had long suspected that a family of mice was living under my cooker and tasting my food,’ he says. ‘Then, late one evening, I returned to retrieve a peanut-buttered slice of bread I’d left briefly in the kitchen and discovered a deer mouse sampling it. When it disappeared into the hob, I grabbed my camera, quickly put a flash on the shelf behind the cooker, and when the mouse popped up again, shot a single frame. It took much longer to convince myself to finish my snack.’


Behind the lens

Alex Badyaev

Alex Badyaev

USA

Alex is a Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Arizona, USA, and is a regular contributor to several international natural history magazines. His scientific work, nature photography and popular science writing have all earned him major awards. His images tell stories about species, capturing their essence and revealing rarely seen behaviours.

Image details

  • Canon EOS-1D Mark IV
  • 16-35mm lens at 25mm
  • 1/200 sec at f18  •   ISO 250
  • Blackfoot Valley, Montana, USA
Copyright in WPY competition photographs remains the property of the respective photographers. You may not copy, share, reproduce or republish the photographs except as expressly permitted by copyright law. For media image usage enquiries, please contact us.

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