A Little Bit More
The first time you see a Mink in the wild, you’ll probably wonder what that cute little animal is. Mink have short legs and stubby face that makes them look more like a baby mammal rather than a full-grown carnivore. But to their prey, Mink are formidable predators. As the poster points out, Mink are comfortable on both land and in water where their speed and agility are put to good use.
Mink are out and about all year long but are most active at night although you may run across one on a cloudy day. Mink have considerable curiosity and can sometimes be attracted by making squeaks or other unusual noises. Probably the most reliable indication of the presence of Mink are their footprints in mud or snow along the streams and lakes they frequent.
Mink do not stalk or ambush their prey but rush in on their prey. They typically “hug” the prey, such as mice, rabbits, and even Muskrats, with their forelegs while they scratch violently with their hind legs and bite vital areas around the head and neck. Mink do spend a lot of time in the water and have been known to dive as deep as 16 feet looking for fish, crayfish, and frogs.
Since Mink are not large they do fall prey to larger carnivores such as Coyotes, Red Foxes, Bobcats, and Great Horned Owls. Although Mink fur is considered one of the best in the world, most of today’s furs come from commercial operations that breed these mammals for their pelts, rather than trapping them from the wild. If you are fortunate enough to see one of these interesting mammals in the wild, watch quietly and enjoy.
Activities
Defend Your Viewpoint
Objectives: Have students discuss how humans use animals, pro and con
Materials: Internet access or library
How humans use animals has become a controversial issue in many areas of the world. The issues revolving around animal use can be rather confrontational and yet they warrant our understanding, regardless of how we feel personally. Here are two approaches that you may want to take with your students. The first is appropriate for any level while the second is probably best for students in grades 6 and above.
Activity 1
Humans make use of animals for a wide variety of purposes. Take a look at the following and see which ones you feel are appropriate and those that you feel may not be. Students should support their viewpoint with reasonable and logical statements. These should make for some good conversation – you can be sure that not everyone will agree.
1. Eating meat and/or fish
2. Use of animals in medical research (mice, rats, and rabbits)
3. Use of animals for leather (cow hides) or skins (snake or alligator)
4. Keeping goldfish/tropical fish in an aquarium
5. Keeping a pet cat or dog
6. Keeping pet hamsters or gerbils in cages
7. Keeping cows for milk
8. Keeping horses for transportation and pleasure
9. Keeping a pet parakeet
Although each one of the previous animals on this list is kept by humans for various reasons, do we really feel this is appropriate or not?
Activity 2
The use of animals to provide fur for the clothing industry is an especially controversial one. Why not have your students look into the use of furs from both a pro-fur and an anti-fur viewpoint. Here are some websites that you can visit that will provide some information on both sides of the controversy.
Brief history of the fur trade:
Anti fur-trade:
Pro fur-trade:
Key Concepts
Environmental Issues, Identification, Predator/Prey Relationships
Questions
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Posted by JACKIE LAVARREDA on August 16, 2006 at 08:31 AM
Q: I am an avid squirrel lover and have on average 15 to 16 squirrels that come to my feeders each am and pm. Grey squirrels and red squirrels. My problem/question is that their fur seems to have changed and the distinguishing markings each possesed that i used to recognize (and name) have changed. Some are still recognizable but others iam now cofused on and a great number seem to have very white lite colored tails. Is this normal? Why has it happened and is there an easier way for me to identify each individual member of my squirrel friends. Thanks so much.
A: Jackie, I'm not sure that I can give you an adequate answer to your question other than squirrels are not long lived animals and the local population is infused with juveniles twice a year. You may be noticing a very natural succession of individuals. The only way I've ben able to tell my squirrels apart are by their shades of color and by their tails. Try to observe the lengths of their tails and how they hold them while feeding to see if your are different. Good luck to you!
Posted by Georgia Kohart on September 11, 2005 at 09:13 AM
Q: I saw a mink in our barn yesterday, which explains the horrible loss of poultry we have been experiencing the past few weeks. I don't want to have this animal killed (we would have to call someone in as we don't trap or hunt) yet I a losing chickens and ducks on an almost nightly basis. Help!
A: This is a real dilema, if one wants to enjoy wildlife and also have farm animals we often learn that the two don't always coexist well!
Mink can be especially aggressive animals at getting to farm animals and as you've found out, will return again and again when they find an "easy meal". First off, I'd try to determine where your mink is getting in to the animals and see if you can block entrance. If that's not possible, you may be able to place a livetrap nearby with some nice meat or fish as bait. Unfortunately, the mink will probably not enter the trap if there is easy access to the birds. However, if you can remove the birds for a few days, place the trap where the birds were, then you may be able to capture your animal. If you're able to catch it, you'll need to release it many miles from your home or it will return. If you release it near a stream or lake (they like areas with water) it will be able to establish its territory there and probably leave you alone from then on.
Good luck and thanks for asking.
Posted by Rona Clements on August 05, 2005 at 09:00 AM
Q: Will wild mink attack my 2 magpie ducks and 1 khaki campbell. will it do any harm to my rabbit or cat?
A: Although Mink are rather small mammals, they are especially strong and aggressive and can take some rather large prey. Furthermore, they are rather widespread and common, especially near water. If you have ducks that are not kept in a pen at night, they're certainly at risk of all kinds of predators, not just Mink. I'd make a point of closing up my ducks at night to be on the safe side. With plenty of wild food around, Mink will often concentrate in field and stream but in times of food shortage or just an "easy-to-catch domestic animal", they may focus on your home area looking for food. Rabbits, especially a domestic one, is certainly vulnerable too so be sure its hutch is secure. I've not heard of a cat being taken by a Mink so I think your cat is safe.
I hope this helps you out, it's certainly no fun to have wild animals take any of your special animals. Of course, they don't realize they're doing anything bad - they're just hungry. Good luck to you and your pets.