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Photo source:
Fur Commission USA
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American Minks - Population Status
American Minks inhabit territories where permanent water and a reliable food source are available. Human activities tend to introduce great changes in the mink's environment, for instance, reducing the length of streams, the erosion process, which considerably impairs the quality of habitat for fish and prey the American Mink feeds on. Stream channeling reduces the length of the stream, draining, gazing and filling wetlands, also destroys the mink's habitat. In those areas where habitat is destroyed, the number of American Minks has greatly declined. American Minks - Impact on the Environment
American Minks are active and aggressive predators. They devastatingly affect such species as ground-nesting birds and water voles. Mink predation tends to cause whole-colony breeding failures at some traditional sea-bird sites. It is claimed that the population of water voles declined by around 94% in 2000. One of the most effective factors, which influence the falling number of water voles, is mink predation. American Minks - Influence of Hunting
The definite number of American Minks shot and trapped each year remains unknown. It should be noted, that there is no mink hunting in Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are about 20 hunts in England and Wales. Trapping is legal in the winter in the North America.
The River Avon is a Special Area of Conservation under the 1992 Habitat and Species Directive. On the whole, mink hunting has a great impact on mink population. A great number of American Minks are trapped in order to get their highly valued winter fur.
American Minks - Conservation Links
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Photo source:
Salmonier Nature Park
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Conservation - By Charles Clover. "Hounds may be the only way to deal with mink."
American Mink in Scotland - Read a number of articles on conservation of American minks.
Conservation - Description, habits, reproduction, importance, management and more.
Mustela Vision - Geographical range, physical characteristics, natural history, economic importance for humans, conservation and other comments.
American Mink Status - Population status, impact of mink on the environment, impact of hunting on the mink population and much more useful information on the conservation of the American Mink.
UK Recruits Mink in Conservation Effort - An article about conservationists' hope to take advantage of the prey-predator minks-voles relationship.
American Minks - Educational Links
BBC Article - "Escaped minks "kill off Ratty" is an article devoted to fur farms minks following voles into their burrows.
Biological Characteristics - Site contains tables with biological characteristics of minks and some other useful data.
Centre for Conservation Science - Control of North American Mink outside their Native Range. Contains description and behavior of American minks, history of introductions, information on problems associated with introduced mink, references and much more useful information.
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Photo source:
Working for Wildlife
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Introduction of American Minks Around the World - The American mink, the small Indian mongoose, and the domestic cat have been particularly damaging to wildlife in various parts of the world. Visit this page and learn details.
Mink Face Cull to Save Ratty from Wipe-Out - Tens of thousands of American mink are facing slaughter in a bid to save one of Britain's best-loved mammals, the Water Vole.
Escaped Mink Threaten Water Voles - Article on American Minks in Europe. What future awaits them?
Mink Picture - An image of mink and some information on the animal.
Mistaken Identity - Minks blamed as water vole "extinct" in the south-west. From The Independent.
Nebraska Wildlife - Learn about habitat, foods, mortality and importance of American minks.
Submission on American Mink Hunting - Biology of the American Mink, history of the species in the UK and consequences of its introduction.
The Habitat - Learn about the American mink's habitat, habits, and breeding.
The Mustela Vision - A bit of biology, information on diet, social calls, pictures and more.
UK Recruits American Mink in Conservation Effort - By exploiting the fear, which the American Mink engenders in its prey, British conservationists hope to save an indigenous rodent from extinction.
Wildlife on Prince Edward Island - Learn what you wanted to know about American minks.
