minks

Minks are small carnivorous mammals in the family Mustelidae. The two living species commonly called minks are the American mink (Neogale vison), native to North America, and the European mink (Mustela lutreola), native to Europe and western Asia. The American mink has also been widespread outside its native range due to fur farming and releases.

Minks are semi-aquatic and highly adapted to wet habitats such as rivers, streams, marshes, and coastal areas. They are skilled swimmers and often den with dens in burrows, hollow trees, or under dense vegetation. They are generally solitary outside the breeding season and maintain overlapping, scent-marked territories.

Their diet is opportunistic and mainly carnivorous, including fish, amphibians, crayfish, small mammals, birds, and eggs. They hunt along shorelines and in cover, using speed and stealth to capture prey. In captivity or farming, they are kept for their fur, which is valued for its density and sheen.

Reproduction occurs seasonally, with mating often in late winter or early spring. The female bears a litter after a gestation period of roughly 40 to 52 days, with typical litter sizes of about 4 to 8 kits (range 2 to more than 10). Kits are altricial and depend on maternal care for several weeks; they reach independence after roughly 6 to 8 weeks and sexual maturity within their first year.

Conservation and human use vary by species. The European mink is generally considered endangered due to habitat loss and competition with the introduced American mink, which is widespread and heavily farmed for fur. Escapees and feral populations of farmed mink can complicate local ecosystems and conservation efforts.