Visón

Visón is the common Spanish name for mink, a small carnivorous mammal in the Mustelidae family. The term can refer to two closely related species: the American mink (Neogale vison), native to North America and widely introduced elsewhere, and the European mink (Mustela lutreola), native to Europe and western Asia. The American mink is generally larger and more adaptable to diverse habitats near freshwater, while the European mink is more endangered and requires clean riparian habitats.

Visones are semi-aquatic and skilled swimmers. They prey on fish, amphibians, crustaceans, birds, and small mammals. They den in burrows or under fallen trees, often near water. They are largely solitary and territorial, with breeding season in spring and litters typically containing several kits.

Conservation and human interaction: European mink populations have declined dramatically due to habitat loss, pollution, and competition with the introduced American mink, and it is listed as endangered in many regions. American mink populations are stable or expanding in some areas, partly due to fur farming and release events, but wild populations have been affected by habitat changes and disease. The species is hunted and farmed for fur; visón fur is dense, soft, and highly valued, leading to commercial mink farming in several regions. The fur trade has raised animal welfare and conservation concerns.

Taxonomy notes: the American mink is currently classified as Neogale vison, while the European mink remains Mustela lutreola. The term visón also appears in fashion to denote mink fur in many Spanish-speaking countries.