Mustela vison, mink

The mink has very specific habitat requirements and cannot live outside of a wetland. The only time the mink exhibits tolerance for a terrestrial habitat is when it is transitory between wetland sites. Mink are most often found living in close association with muskrats; for they feed heavily upon them. They also consume crayfish, minnows, invertebrates, waterfowl, and rodents. They are voracious feeders and opportunistic in their habit. If a preferred food is either too difficult to capture or is in short supply, the mink will capture and consume an occasional cottontail or squirrel. Food that is not immediately consumed is stored in a cache for a meal at a later time. Shoreline cavities, hollows in fallen logs, abandoned muskrat lodges, and burrows abandoned by other animals serve as adequate den sites. Depending on the quality of the habitat resources, a mink's home range may be 20-50 acres. The home range of males is wider than that of females year round and is extended during times of breeding. Mink will defend their territories to their death especially during the breeding cycle.