American Mink

Neogale vison

The American Mink is common across North America, but its nocturnal and stealthy hunting habits keep it well hidden. A member of the weasel family, it has a long, slim characteristic shape.

Habitat

Look for American Minks in wet places: wetlands such as marshes, and along rivers and lakes.

You can find American Minks at Oak Hammock Marsh!

Food

Minks are nocturnal carnivores that eat a large variety of animals such as small mammals, frogs, snakes, insects, birds, eggs, crayfish, and fish. They can take much bigger prey such as rabbits and, especially, muskrats, one of their favorite foods. They are active hunters throughout the year.

Behaviour

With webbed feet and oily, waterproof fur, mink are great swimmers and spend much of their time in the water hunting. As with other members of the weasel family, they depend heavily on scent. Minks are
solitary and territorial outside the breeding season, when they will live together and raise four to six young, known as kits. They will dig burrows but seem to prefer the abandoned burrows and structures of other animals, such as muskrat lodges. Minks may even evict other animals to gain their homes in some cases. They will defend a home range up to 20 hectares (40 acres). A small sized hunter, minks must watch for hawks, owls, foxes, coyotes, and wolves, which will hunt them.

Conservation

Minks have been, and continued to be, trapped for their fur, which is in demand because of its quality and colour. Over trapping was a problem in the past, but modern trapping regulations ensure populations
remain healthy and stable today.

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