Mink

Mustela vison

Minks are known for their rich glossy fur. These highly aggressive predators live a solitary nocturnal lifestyle and prey on a wide variety of animals. The larger males kill muskrats and rabbits while the smaller females go after mice and songbirds. Both sexes eat a lot of fish, frogs, and crayfish. They inhabit all types of wetlands but freshwater swamps and marshy lakeshores are preferred.

Look For : A rich brown or glossy black animal with a white chin. Most often seen bounding along a freshwater shoreline.

Length : Body 13-20" long, tail 6-7" long; 2-4 lb.

Habitat : Wetlands, rivers, and shorelines.

Range : Most of U.S. and Canada, except Southwest from southern California to western Texas.