Our American mink will eat just about any animal that lives in and near water including fish, amphibians, birds, crayfish, eggs, reptiles, grubs, earthworms, mice, and muskrats.......... They will also prey on domestic poultry if given the opportunity............ Natural predators of mink include foxes, owls, bobcats, coyotes and even otters............. For the most part a majority of mink succumb to parasites, disease or are killed by human related activities including automobile strikes...........Mink do not hibernate, nor do they establish mating-pairs............. The males usually defend a territory along a stretch of water where six to seven females occur....Litters of four kits are born between April and June.

N.J. Wildlife: The 

American Mink, one 

of N.J.’s most common

 semi-aquatic carnivore

nj.com

People are surprised to learn that the American
 mink is actually a 
very common species found along watercourses,
 lakes and swamps
 throughout New Jersey. They are primarily 
nocturnal and solitary 
animals which accounts for why people never
 really encounter them.

People are also often surprised to learn that
the term “mink” actually
 refers to two species of mammal; the American
 mink (Neovision vision)
and the European mink (Muestela lutreola).
 Only the American mink is
 found in North America, where as the
European mink is now only found
in a few small parts of northern Europe
(the American mink is considered
an invasive species in Europe and has
been linked to the European mink’s
 decline). The European Mink is more
 related to “polecats”, where as the
 American mink is more related to
animals, such as skunks, otters, and
weasels.

And like skunks, the American mink
 can defend themselves by spraying
a foul-smelling liquid. However unlike
skunks, the American mink cannot
 aim their spray.
The American mink with its sleek-
streamlined body has great agility and
flexibility and will pursue its prey on
 both land and water. They are excellent
swimmers and with its dense coat of
 water–resistant fur, mink have been
 known to dive underwater as deep as
16 feet.

As a carnivore the American mink
will eat just about any animal that
lives
 in and near water, including fish,
 amphibians, birds, crayfish, eggs,
 reptiles,
 grubs, earthworms, mice, and
muskrats. They will also prey on
 domestic
poultry is given the opportunity.
Natural predators of mink include
 foxes,
owls, bobcats, coyotes and even
otters! For the most part a majority
 of mink
 succumb to parasites, disease or
 are killed by human related activities
including automobile strikes.

Adult mink are about 14 to 20 inches
 long, which includes a 5- to 9-inch
 tail, weigh between two to four pounds
 and sport a dark brown coat with
 a white to cream colored underside.
 Mink do not hibernate, nor do they
establish mating-pairs. The males
usually defend a territory along a
stretch
of water where six to seven females
occur. They make “galleries” which are
resting spots in their territories within
hollows of logs or abandoned animal
 borrows and line them with hair,
feathers and grasses. They typically
nest
in hollow logs or stumps near water,
or in bank dens dug by other animals.

Mating occurs in the spring with litters
 of four kits born between April
 and June. The kits are weaned after
five weeks and stay with their mother
 until becoming independent in the fall.
 Mink can live as long as 10 years.

This story is a weekly feature that runs 
with the cooperation of New
 Jersey Audubon. For more information
 about NJ Audubon or how
 to perform conservation efforts on your 
property, contact John 
Parke of NJ Audubon at john.parke
@njaudubon.org or visit
 njaudubon.org