Driving to the Camp the other day we saw a mink dart across the road with a mouse in its mouth. It was fast and disappeared quickly in the grasses and bush by the side of the road. Sleek and a beautiful brown its fur glistened in the sunshine.
A little research showed that minks are found throughout North America except the tundra and desert regions, and there are several what are called ‘sub-species’ (e.g., Eastern Mink; Western Mink; Alaskan Mink etc.). The mink is quite common throughout Ontario.
Minks have short legs, a long body and neck, and a small head with small ears. They are semi-aquatic and prefer to live in areas in which there are streams, lakes, ponds. They tend to avoid open areas, so forests and dense bush are prime habitat. Their burrows are often located along or near bodies of water, under logs or stumps.
They will eat almost any living thing – fish, crayfish, worms, insects, mice, frogs, moles, even rabbits, muskrats, and birds! They will even store extra food for a later need.
Mink are usually solitary, nocturnal animals, but can be spied hunting at dawn (our mink) and dusk. They are active all year but will seek out their dens when the weather is cold or stormy. Even a mink needs to stay warm!
