Return of the Mink
by Cindy ~ December 18, 2007
Last week, my hubby came in from outdoors exclaiming ‘we either have a mink or weasel making the rounds on our property. after he found tracks circling the house, many trees and our vehicles. We’ve had beautiful short-taled weasels here in the summer/winter both, and their thick white coats are just gorgeous during the winter. We’ve also had mink- the photo above shows a female that was hunting in the rain, and I also captured images of her mate- a very large and bold male that approaced my mubby in his lawn chair only 4 feet or less away. The’re fearless hunters and always on the move.
I watched them climb tree trunks, peer into car bumpers and search pretty much anyplace where an unwary meal may hide in. Mink can be found in wooded areas and fields near streams and lakes. They dig burrows in river banks or take over dens abandoned by other animals and they have a varied diet. They feed on small mammals, fish, crayfish, frogs and other amphibians, also sometimes eating birds, insects and earthworms. These animals are mainly active at night and do not hibernate. Their predators include coyotes, the Great Horned Owl, red foxes and wolves. They are also trapped for their fur. Their numbers have been reduced due to loss of habitat and the effects of pollution on their aquatic food supply.
They’re back. Garry has managed to get a couple photos of the large male that is busy out in the deep snow..and as I thought before, I much prefer to see that glossy thick fur on their own bodies instead of some overpriced ugly coat. I have a strong aversion to trapping any wild animal- it’s cruel and most times so very unnessary. They’re fascinating and I’m happy that all of recent development closeby has not caused them to leave.. yet.
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