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...

 

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.

Mink

I have found this critter's tracks on the snow-covered ice of the creek.  It's a member of the weasel family.  From a couple of years ago some grainy infrared images taken with a trail camera.   And from last week a nice daytime photo of Mustela vison.  A mink.

click on image to enlarge

Nocturnal and diurnal this critter may be out and about hunting its prey (they're carnivores).  It's also mating season - so perhaps it out looking to get lucky.

Of all the weasels the mink happens to be the most aquatic.  I'd be willing to bet that it's burrow might be in the vicinity of the creek or the pond. 

Guess The Critter

Recall the mystery critter from last Sunday?

Mystery solved!

Check out these frames taken from another location...

It's a mink. 

Have found tracks in the snow and its toboggan-like trail.  First photographic evidence of one.