American Minks

American Minks

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Telegraph Group Limited © 2003

American Minks - General Description

American Minks belong to the Mustelidae family. They are small animals with long and slender body. Mink's legs are short and sturdy. Partially webbed toes prove the mink's semi-aquatic origins.

The neck is rather long. The face is flat and pointed. The tail is long and bushy. It makes up approximately a third of the whole body length. The American Mink's coat is dark brown. However, fur farm breeding has resulted in a very wide range of solid colors, such as white, gray, fawn, and chestnut. Minks can have white fur on the chin, belly and chest. Minks are valued for their thick and soft fur. It produces some oil, which waterproofs the coat. Their coat molts in August or September.

The American Mink's anal glands let out a very unpleasant stench when the Mink is frightened.

American Minks - Behavior

American Minks are highly adaptable. It allows them to exploit a wide range of foods. They dig their burrows in the banks of rivers, streams and lakes. Minks tend to inhabit the dens of other mammals. As far as the interior of the American Mink's home is concerned, they line them with grass, leaves and fur. For its lifetime, a male mink may inhabit several dens. He may share his territory with a female, but not with another male.

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South Downs Virtual Information Centre © 2000-2001
Sussex Downs Conservation Board

The American Minks leads an active life throughout the periods of cold weather. It pursues muskrats and fish. The Mink's flexible body protected with thick fur enables it to travel under the ice of ponds and rivers and be perfectly suitable for an amphibious life style all year round.

American Minks are territorial and primarily solitary animals. Males are known to be intolerant of one another. They mark the boundaries of their territory by means of musky secretions. American Minks are excellent swimmers, divers and climbers. When minks search for food, they are able to cover the distance of around 100 feet. American Minks reach their top activity at night.

Habitat Minks are found in Canada, the United States, Ireland, Newfoundland, Iceland, Russia, Scandinavia, Great Britain and on the islands of Queen Charlotte and Anticosti.
Scientific Name - Mustela vision
Length - approximately 2 feet
Weight - approximately 1-5 pounds The males are larger than the females.
Life Span - American Minks live from 3 to 6 years in the wild.