Mink

The mink is a medium-sized member of the weasel family. The first American mink were brought to British fur farms in 1929 and all wild mink in Britain today are descendants of escapees or illegal releases. The natural wild colouring is a glossy dark brown, appearing almost black in some light. Mink spend up to 80% of their time in their dens, sleeping, grooming and eating food they have carried home. Frequently found near water, they are often mistaken for otters, although mink are in fact considerably smaller. Mink are a major factor in the decimation of the water vole population, because they are small enough to follow their prey down its burrow. They are highly effective predators and, given the opportunity, will kill far more than they can carry away and eat. They are major predators of much of our native wildlife and should be controlled at every opportunity.

Where are they found?

Habitat:

Mink are closely associated with water, and they even have slightly webbed feet.
They are equally able to catch fish, eels and crayfish underwater as they are able to climb trees to take fledgling birds.
They can be seen in remote countryside and in water courses running through major cities.
They display little fear of man, and are supremely confident in their abilites to defend themselves.
being strong swimmers they have invaded many off-shore islands and present a serious threat to some seabird breeding colonies.

Habits:

Mink are solitary, territorial animals; males and females each select their own territory which they defend vigerously against other mink.
Within its' territory a mink will have several dens, usually in the roots of riverside trees, boulders or rabbit burrows.
Although mainly nocturnal, mink are often seen during the day.
Mink are fast, agile carnivores and will eat anything they can catch and kill. Teir diet is made up of fish, birds,rabbits, rats, mice, eels and crayfish.
They will kill poultry, and like the fox, they will not stop killing until every bird in the pen is dead.
Mink are a very serious threat to native British wildlife, particularly ground nesting birds and water voles which they have driven to extinction in many areas of the country.