He also has musk glands like all other members of this large family. The mink marks its territory and advertises its presence by depositing droppings and leaving its scent in prominent locations such as on flat rocks and logs.
A mink is an aggressive predator and often attacks animals larger than it. The mink feeds on a wide variety of terrestrial animals such as mice, rabbits and muskrats; small birds; and several aquatic animals, including frogs, fish and crayfish, and seldom eats carrion. Prey are usually killed then taken to the den to be eaten. Mink are themselves preyed upon by owls, coyotes, and cats.
The mink lives in a variety of wetlands including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes. Permanent water, a reliable food source and adequate shoreline vegetation are keys to good mink habitat. Since the mink will venture away from water to hunt, good vegetation around its home is also important. Mink make their homes in abandoned muskrat lodges and burrows, and in stream banks, under trees, and in drift piles. The den is usually lined with grass, leaves, fur, or feathers. The greatest time of activity for a mink is duck to dawn, although they have been known to be around during the day. Although it may seek shelter in its den during bad weather, a mink is usually active year-round. A mink usually lives alone.
Domestic mink raised on ranches are a staple of the fur industry and the pelts of wild mink are highly valued. Even though they are curious, mink are quite wary and few trappers become proficient at taking them.
The mink from Europe, especially Russia is known scientifically by the name Mustela lutreola. This mink is reddish brown to dark cinnamon. Its underbody is paler, and there may be some white on the chin, chest, and throat. Habitat preference is densely vegetated banks, creeks, rivers, and lakes. It swims and dives quite well. This predator hunts at night and twilight, its chief prey being the water vole.
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