Guess The Critter

I guess you don't have to guess, I got it figured-out finally.

Meet Mustela vision - the American mink.

 

For awhile I figured this to be a long-tailed weasel.  Not so.  A pal of mine who is a retired wildlife biologist tells me he believes this to be a mink.  I'm glad we got that figured-out because I can't keep them straight most of the time.  Mink, weasels, martens and otters all belong to the same family - Mustelidae.  Difficult to determine with a trail camera the mink is slightly larger than a long-tailed weasel.

The American mink is a semi-aquatic species of mustelid native to North America.  I have found this critter's tracks in the snow over the years and trail camera photos more frequently of late.

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.

For the record; From last year this is a long-tailed weasel in it's wintertime livery...