Animal House: All About the American Mink

One of the readers to this website submitted some photos of a mink seen near Mead’s Meadow last week. This is why it is so amazing to live in New England.  We are surrounded by some of the most amazing and hardy wildlife anywhere.   

Mink are not rare in this area, but are rarely seen. They can also be mistaken for another animal, usually the weasel, which is part of the mink family. 

The American mink, scientific name Mustela vison, are medium to dark brown in color with a white chin and usually have white spots along the belly. The fur is very dense, glossy and water repellant. They have a long weasel-like body with short legs. The tail is slightly bushy. The feet are semi webbed and the toes end with small but sharp claws. Mink have long whiskers, small rounded eyes and small fuzzy ears.

Males weigh 2 to 3.5 pounds and are about 2 feet long. Mink can be found almost anywhere in Canada and North American except the dry southwest regions.  Mink primarily feed on small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs, crayfish, lizards, small snakes and insects.   They are true carnivores and eat just about anything they can catch. 

Mink are excellent hunters and depend mostly on their sense of smell when looking for prey. Mink are mostly aquatic and are excellent swimmers. They live by the fresh waters of lakes, streams, rivers, swamps and marshes. Their den may be abandoned beaver or muskrat dens, hollow logs, or they may dig their own burrow.

Mink are active during the night but can often be seen during daylight hours. Mink are solitary and very territorial. They have few natural predators but will be attacked by fox, coyote, and owls.

Breeding season is from January to April. The gestation period is usually 30 to 79 days. The young are known as “cubs” or “kits.” The litter is usually two to six young but can be as many as ten, with only one litter produced a year. The young’s eyes will open around 25 days old and they are weaned around 6 weeks. They learn to hunt with their mother when they are eight weeks old then they leave and are sexually mature at less than a year.

The mink population is very important for regulating the fresh water food chain. Although the American mink is not in severe danger, over trapping can occur when fur prices increase. Clean water and conservation of wetlands, rivers, and lakes is crucial.

Over development of the minks habitat is also playing a role in the declining population numbers. 

The American Mink also played a huge part in the early economy of North America, as it was a staple in the fur trade with Canada.  Today the mink fur we get for clothing is derived from Mink farms. This and strong trapping laws have allowed the mink to survive, and therefore are not in danger of extinction or becoming endangered. 

So, the next time you are driving near a wooded area slow down and see if you can spot a mink, a turkey, a buck, an eagle, or even a phisher cat.

Keep the e-mails coming, as I love to answer any and all your questions!

Editor's Note: Special thanks to Dori Frankel for submitting the photos of the mink.