Mink

Neovison visonLive 3 years in the wild.

Identification

• Minks are members of the weasel family and have a long slim body

• They are mainly active at night and are active year-round

• Weighs about 2.5 pounds and is about 31 inches long with a tail that can be from 5-9 inches long

• Minks have a glossy brown coat and may have white spots on their belly

RangeMinks are found all over North America except for the American Southwest and Canadian tundra because of the lack of water.

Habitat• Minks are great swimmers

and can be found in forested areas near bodies of water

• They dwell on the shoreline and will liver wherever there is a permanent water area

• They prefer bushy, grassy shorelines for the cover and security they provide.

• Mink are solitary creatures and contact each other only during mating season

Diet

• Minks are semi-aquatic carnivores and will hunt on land and water.

• Minks eat fish, small mammals, birds, birds eggs, insects, amphibians, crabs and crayfish

• They will eat whatever they can catch, including younger minks.

Mating

• Minks are polygamous and competition among males for mates is fierce.

• During courtship, male mink will leave their territory and search the countryside for females.

• The breeding season for minks run from late January to late March.

Den• Minks do not dig burrows

but instead take over dens abandoned by other animals

• Muskrat houses, bank burrows, log jams and abandoned beaver lodges are preferred den sites

• Minks frequently use many separate den sites depending on the availability of prey.

The Young

• Gestation lasts from 40-75 days

• The litter can be from 3-6 young and they are delivered in the den in late April or early May

• Eyesight develops in the young about 3 weeks after birth

• The mink family stays together until late summer when the young disperse to find their own territory

• They reach maturity at 10 months of age

• There is a high rate of starvation among the newly independent minks

Predators

• Minks are hunted by wolves, foxes, birds of prey, lynx, and river otters

• Minks are hunted by humans because their rich coats are valued in making clothing

Voice

• Minks rely mainly on odors and visual signals for communication

• Minks can communicate through sounds but are fairly quiet

Interesting Facts• Because of concern of the effect harvesting has on

the wild mink population, many mink farms were established to breed minks for the sole purpose of harvesting their fur for clothing. The breeders for these farms have created minks whose coats range from white to black. The existence of mink farms has been contentious among animal rights activists.

• In Alaska, the breeding season is extended to April because the days are longer due to the change of season.

• The mink has oil glands in its fur which help it swim by decreasing water resistance

To learn more about CREA please visit www.creamaine.org

Work Cited

• http://www.extension.org/pages/Mink#Range_and_Habitat

• http://www.adfg.state.ak.us/pubs/notebook/furbear/mink.php

• http://www.the-piedpiper.co.uk/th1i.htm• http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/429

61000/jpg/_42961901_mustela_marin_416.jpg

• http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_S9nG9mYE1NE/S7EWZ25xkLI/AAAAAAAAAtM/l9oYXh-P37k/s1600/Mink+Den.JPG

• http://advocacy.britannica.com/blog/advocacy/wp-content/uploads/american-mink.jpg

• http://farm1.static.flickr.com/126/338938009_0df89a2afe.jpg?v=0

• http://farm1.static.flickr.com/60/200676401_2b4a935a14.jpg

• http://wildwildthings.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/mink.jpg

• http://www.conserveireland.com/mammals/images/american-mink/3.jpg

• http://image.absoluteastronomy.com/images/encyclopediaimages/e/eu/europischer_nerz.jpg

• http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05/29/article-1022484-01691B9900000578-228_468x286.jpg