Night-time mouse ninjas caught in mid-air fight for food

CAUGHT in the act. These mice probably think nothing can see them. But their late-night capers have been captured by a camera trap.

The trap is the work of Eric Médard, a photographer in France who has been shooting animals at night for 25 years. His work isn’t easy, because unsurprisingly, many animals aren’t fans of cameras or photographers. Some, like owls, are sensitive to bright flashes, while others shy away from nearby humans.

So Médard rigs infrared cameras and hides them in soundproof boxes in strategic spots around the countryside. There is “no visible light, no noise, no smell”, he says, making the system perfect for capturing animals unaware and undisturbed. The picture above shows him testing one of them.

Médard’s photos appear in his book Passeurs de Lunes, published in French. It contains images of European wildlife at night, such as bats flying below an ivy-covered bridge, fire salamanders slithering out from their daytime hiding place and a fox sneaking away with a midnight snack.

In the top photo, two mice are fighting on Médard’s cellar floor. He was inspired to try shooting after noticing crumbs of dog food in his kitchen drawers. A plate of grains, placed in front of a camera trap, lured the hidden pests for many photos – and this is his favourite.

(Images: Eric Médard/NaturePL)

This article appeared in print under the headline “Night-time ninjas”