The elusive American mink, Mustela vison, is a Florida native. Like otters, they are members of the weasel family and therefore, fiercely carnivorous. Dinner consists of fish, snakes, crabs, crayfish, frogs, insects, and small mammals. Minks are smaller than otters, weigh up to 4 pounds, and are only 1 – 2.5 feet long.
Minks are semi-aquatic animals that live in marshes and along the banks of rivers and streams. They have been spotted in salt marshes near the northern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The Everglades mink, Neovison vison, is state-designated as threatened. They have been documented in freshwater and saltwater marshes in the southern Everglades, Fakahatchee Strand, and Big Cypress Swamp. There have been no current sightings of mink in the freshwater habitats of northern and central Florida.
In the spring, female minks give birth in their dens of hollowed-out logs or under protective tree roots. The 3-6 kits open their eyes at 25 days, are weaned at 5-6 weeks, and stay with their mother until fall. Bobcats, great-horned owls, and foxes prey on mink. Life expectancy is only 3 years. However, humans are the biggest threat to minks. In addition to hunting mink for oil, fur, and to assure a large fish population in human fishing areas, humans have reduced the minks’ habitat and polluted the waters that supply their food.
Minks are fast and incredibly adept at staying out of the sight of humans. Because they hunt in the late evening, during the night, and early mornings, sightings are rare. FWC biologists are seeking help from the public to track mink distribution in Florida. If you see a mink, please report your sighting here: https://public.myfwc.com/hsc/weasel/Default.aspx
Photo Credit: JayStatonPhotography.com
