|
American Mink running for cover in Algonquin Park, Ontario.
Photograph by Ted Goldring. Some rights reserved. |
|
|
AMERICAN MINK FACTS
|
Description
The American Mink has dark brown fur with white patches on the chin, chest, and throat. The body is long and slender with short legs and a pointed short face. The Mink is semi-aquatic and has partially webbed feet to assist it in the water. The fur is soft and thick, making it attractive to the fur trade.
Size
Total length: males 58cm - 70cm; females 46cm - 57cm. Tail length: about 25cm - 35cm. Weight: males 0.9kg - 1.6kg; females 0.7kg - 1.1kg.
Environment
forested areas close to streams, ponds, and lakes are preferred habitat
Food
Mainly small mammals such as shrews, rabbits, mice. Also eat frogs, crayfish, birds.
Breeding
A litter of 1 - 8 young are born after a gestation period of 40 to 75 days. Newborns weigh 8g - 10 grams and are pink with sparse coat of white fur. They open their eyes at three and a half weeks and are weaned at about 6 weeks.
Range
most of Canada and northern and eastern parts of the United States. Not found on Arctic coast
Classification
| Class: | Mammalia | | Order: | Carnivora | | Family: | Mustelidae | | Genus: | Mustela | | Species: | vison | | Common Name: | American Mink |
Relatives in same Genus
Ermine (M. erminea)
Long-tailed Weasel (M. frenata)
Black-footed Ferret (M. nigripes)
Least Weasel (M. nivalis)
|
|
