Weasel photo taken at Rock Run Preserve ‘chewed up the competition’ in contest

“A carnivorous weasel chewed up the competition” in a May photo contest, according to a news release from the Forest Preserve District of Will County.

The forest preserve hosts a Preserve the Moment photo contest that starts May 1 and ends Dec. 31. This is the sixth annual contest.

One winner and several honorable mentions are chosen each month with one overall winner chosen from the eight finalists in January.

Amateur photographer Darek Konopka of Romeoville snapped the photo of the weasel at Rock Run Preserve.

Judges liked the photo for several reasons: the weasel’s alert look and how it contrasted with the tree truck and “soft green background,” the release said.

According to the release, the honorable mentions in May were awarded to:

Matt Serafini of Lockport for his photo of a “great blue heron with outstretched wings,” which he snapped at Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve.

Matthew Zook of Plainfield for his photo of a “cauldron of big brown bats,” which were clustered in the corner of a shelter at Laughton Preserve.

Mark Hanna of Romeoville for his photo of a mother Canada goose as she wrapped her wing around her goslings at Four Rivers Environmental Education Center in Channahon.

Byron Morgan of Crete for his photo of a “colorful wild geranium,” which he took at Raccoon Grove Nature Preserve.

View all photo contest entries at Flickr.com/WillCoForests/albums.

For contest rules and prizes, visit ReconnectWithNature.org. The Nature Foundation of Will County funds all photo contest prizes. Visit willcountynature.org.