Mink

Mink

Mink are semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera Neovison and Mustela. They are part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters and ferrets. There are two extant species referred to as the American mink and the European mink. The extinct sea mink is related to theAmerican mink but was much larger.

About Mink in brief

Summary MinkMink are dark-colored, semiaquatic, carnivorous mammals of the genera Neovison and Mustela. They are part of the family Mustelidae, which also includes weasels, otters and ferrets. There are two extant species referred to as the American mink and the European mink. The extinct sea mink is related to theAmerican mink but was much larger. The male weighs about 1 kg and is about 62 cm in length. Farm-bred males can reach 3. 2 kg. The female weighs about 600 g and reaches a length of about 51 cm. The sizes above do not include the tail, which can be from 12. 8 to 22. 8 cm. A mink’s rich glossy coat in its wild state is brown and looks silky. Mink oil is used in some medical products and cosmetics, as well as to treat, preserve and waterproof leather.

The maximum lifespan of a mink is usually around ten years, but rarely exceeds three years in the wild. Adult mink eat expired cheese, eggs, fish, meat, dog livers, turkey and poultry byproducts. They rarely eat live fish, but are often hunted to protect the fish population in lakes and rivers. In the UK, under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal to release mink into the wild, and in some countries, any live mink caught in traps must be humanely killed. The mink are seldom found near water and are seldom trapped for their fur, and seldom found to live near water or near water. They seldom use as much as two tons of food per day with 3,000 mink horn.