Mink
Mustela vison
Description
- The sleek-bodied mink has a lustrous, chocolate
brown to black fur with white spotting on the chin and
throat. The mink's tail is long and bushy. Average weight
is 1-4 pounds, the size of a small housecat, the male
being heavier than the female.
Distribution
- The mink occurs throughout all of Canada along rivers,
creeks, ponds, lakes and marshes.
Biology
- They prey chiefly on muskrats then mice, rabbits,
chipmunks, fish, snakes, frogs and birds and are known
to raid poultry houses. Foxes, bobcats and great horned
owls are known predators. Mink den near water in abandoned
burrows and move often. In the spring 3-6 young are
born blind and naked. The pelts are highly valued; most
of those used commercially are raised on ranches.