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Photo by Erin Guinn
Photo Copyright Erin Guinn
American Mink
Vison vison
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G5
State (S-rank): S3S4
External links
General information
The American mink, Mustela vison, is a weasel-like furbearing mammal with dark brown fur and a white patch under the chin. The species occurs throughout Alaska and Canada, as well as in most of the contiguous United States, with the exception of the southwestern portion of the country. The species may be found in the northern half of Utah, where it prefers wetlands, marshes, and riparian zones, particularly those near forested areas. Individuals are active year-round, and are generally solitary.
Females typically give birth to three or four young during late spring. Mink are primarily carnivorous, with diets consisting of small mammals, birds, insects, and other small animals. The species often dens near water, either in burrows they dig themselves, or in burrows abandoned by other animals.
Phenology
Mainly nocturnal and crepuscular. May reduce activity in severe winter weather.
Species range
Throughout most of North America north of Mexico except for southwestern U.S. Introduced in Iceland, north-central Europe, British Isles, Norway, Belarussia, Baltic States, Spain, and Siberia (Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993).
Migration
Male home range considerably larger than that of female; average for female 20-50 acres (not more than 20 acres according to Layne 1978), for male 1900 acres plus (Banfield 1974, Schwartz and Schwartz 1981), up to 8 km (5 mi.) in diameter (Caire et al. 1989). In Tennessee, fall-early winter home range of three males (2 adults, 1 juvenile) was 5.6-11.1 km of stream; overnight movements were as large as 4.3 km (Stevens et al. 1997). In England, partial-year home range was 4.5-8.6 km (mean 6.0 km) of water course in males and 0.8-4.3 km (mean 2.7 km) in females (Yamaguchi and Macdonald 2003).
Habitat
Favors forested, permanent or semipermanent wetlands with abundant cover, marshes, and riparian zones Dens in muskrat burrow, abandoned beaver den, hollow log, hole under tree roots, or in burrow dug by mink in streambank.
Food habits
Small mammals, other vertebrates (e.g., waterfowl), crayfish, and small vertebrates associated with aquatic/riparian ecosystems. Muskrats (ONDATRA ZIBETHICUS) particularly are favored in some areas, but diet reflects availability.
Ecology
Solitary except during mating period and when females have young. In good habitat, density may be 9-22 per sq mile (Banfield 1974).
Reproductive characteristics
Breeds in northern states late February to early May, peak in March. Gestation lasts 40-75 (average 51) days; implantation is delayed. Litter size is 2-10 (average 3-4). Young begin to venture from nest after about 7 weeks, weaned at 8-9 weeks. Male sometimes may help care for young. Sexually mature in 10 months.
References
- Biotics Database. 2005. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, NatureServe, and the network of Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers.
