Mink Skull

The American Mink can be found in various environments across the United States. It is nocturnal and semi-aquatic, living along streams, lakes and marshes throughout North America. It is a skillful hunter, feeding on small water animals like fish, frogs and crayfish as well as birds and small mammals. Mink are preyed upon by Great Horned owls, bobcats and foxes, but they are most often hunted by humans for their glossy brown fur. More recently they had been bred on farms to provide fur to the clothing industry, which has relieved some of the stress on natural populations from fur trapping. An adult mink can be up to 2 feet in length and weighs about 2-3 pounds, although farm bred males can grow to up to 7 pounds.