Furbearer

Meet Mustela vision - the American mink.

For purposes of scale here is a photo taken from the same camera of garden variety cat.

The American mink is a semi-aquatic species of mustelid (weasels, badgers, otters, martens and wolverines) native to North America.  I have found this critter's tracks in the snow over the years and trail camera photos only a couple of times in the last ten years. 

A strict carnivore, mink feed on mice, voles, rabbits, muskrats, frogs, fish and crayfish.  They also prey-upon birds and their eggs.  As a strong and agile swimmer much of their food is obtained closer to the shoreline habitat.

With the exception of the mating season this is a solitary critter.  Polygamous both sexes will mate with multiple partners but it is the females that raise the young.  Breeding around here  begins in March.  Litter sizes range from two to eight  (typically four) and the young become independent at six months of age.

Unlike some weasels this critter does not turn white with winter.  The pelt (fur) of this animals is quite valuable; as a consequence, domestic farming of mink provides the majority of the fur that is brought to market. 

This species' conservation status is of least concern.