American Mink

Neogale vison

American minks have webbed feet and oily, water-repellent fur, allowing them to dive up to 10 feet deep to hunt underwater.

Scientific name

Neogale vison

Taxonomy

Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Carnivora › Mustelidae › Neogale

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Population trend

stable

Biome

wetland

Habitat

Streams, rivers, lakes, marshes, and rocky coastal shorelines with dense vegetation cover.

Diet

Carnivorous; feeds on fish, frogs, crayfish, muskrats, small rodents, and waterfowl.

Range

North America, Europe, South America, Asia

Size

31-45 cm (12-18 inches) in length, weighing 0.5-1.6 kg (1.1-3.5 lbs)

Lifespan

3-4 years in the wild

Active

crepuscular

Threats

Habitat destruction, water pollution, bioaccumulation of aquatic toxins, and trapping.

Safe to approach?

Harmless to humans from a distance, but defensive if cornered or handled. They can deliver a painful bite and spray a foul-smelling musk. Keep a safe distance of at least 5-10 feet. If bitten, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and warm water, and seek medical attention immediately to check for infection or rabies.

The American mink ( Neogale vison ) is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to North America, though human introduction has expanded its range to many parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. Because of range expansion, the American mink is classed as a least-concern species by the IUCN. The American mink was formerly thought to be the only extant member of the genus Neovison following the extinction of the sea mink ( N. macrodon ), but recent studies, followed by...

Photo: Edwin Wilke, CC0, via iNaturalist

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