American Mink

Physical Description: 

The American mink is a small brown, slender weasel-like mammal with long body and short legs. They have a thick bushy tail with reddish to brown fur and a white patch on their chin or throat. They can get up to about 12 to 17 inches in length, not including the tail. The tail is about five to nine inches, making up a third of their total body length.  

Predators: 

Common predators are large carnivores such as wolves, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and even bird of prey.  

Lifespan: 

American mink can live up to 10 years in the wild. Under human care they can live up to 15 years of age.  

Reproduction: 

American Mink will mate seasonally in the late winter or early spring, typically from February to April. Their gestation period ranges between 40 to 75 days as they can go through delayed implantation if the conditions are not adequate. Mink are polygamous where males will seek out multiple mates. They will give birth to 1-8 kits in the late spring, where kits are born blind, hairless and dependent on the mother. They will stay with mom until late fall until they can hunt on their own.  

Fun Facts: 

• Mink are semi aquatic mammals known for their excellent swimming skills due to their webbed feet and dense fur.  

• When threatened they spray a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands. 

• Mink have excellent eyesight and hearing which helps them in finding prey.  

Conservation Messaging: 

Purposeful Pet Ownership 

American Mink populations are being managed due to threats such as fur trapping and the pet trade. Most mink are brought in as pets from fur farms as they can selectively bred them for color variations and slighter calmer temperaments. However, they still have wild instincts, need specialized care, require lots of space, and are naturally aggressive animals. The American mink have become an invasive species in nonnative areas due to their abilities to escape which pose major threats on the environment and other species. Be sure to fully research any pet before buying one. While you may think a mink would make a cool pet, it’s important to know all of the care that goes into providing that animal with the best possible welfare.