THE MINK

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THE MINK: MUTATED WITH [Ai]

Mink -- Media -- Encarta ® Online

Mink, common name for certain semiaquatic carnivores related to the weasel and characterized by a slender body and thick, soft, dark brown, durable fur that is highly valued commercially. Mainly nocturnal, the animal is extremely agile in water, from which it obtains the fish, frogs, and shellfish that constitute a large portion of its diet. It is also active on land, hunting birds and small mammals, and sometimes invading poultry houses. The animal usually inhabits a burrow about 3 m (about 10 ft) long in a river bank, sometimes with several entrances, but the mink may leave the lair for as long as several weeks when hunting. The animal prefers densely vegetated areas, and may also live under stones or among tree roots. Ordinarily, minks are solitary animals, but during the breeding season pairs live in sheltered burrows. Two to ten young are born in each litter; the animals may live for up to ten years. Minks have anal glands that emit a strong odor, especially during the mating season.

The native mink of North America is 43 to 66 cm (17 to 26 in) in total length, of which the tail constitutes about one-third. It has been introduced into Europe and Asia, where the European mink is native. In order to supply the demands of the fur industry, minks are raised on a large scale on fur farms and are bred for a wide range of color varieties (see Fur Industry).

Scientific classification: Minks belong to the family Mustelidae. The American mink is classified as Mustela vison and the European mink as Mustela lutreola.