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Minks are small, short-legged members of the weasel family. The mink is an aggressive mammal that is adapted to a semi-aquatic life. Mink live in swamps, rivers, marshes, lakes and streams in North America, Europe, and the far west of Asia. Mink have a life span of about 8 to 10 years in captivity.
Anatomy: The mink has a pointed snout, very short legs, partly-webbed clawed feet, and a slender body. Minks range in size from 1.5 to 2.5 feet (45 to 78 cm) long (from snout to tail). Males are much larger than females.
Diet: Minks are carnivores (meat-eaters). They eat small mammals (like mice, rats and muskrats), frogs, crayfish, fish, insects, eggs, and ducks.
Predators: Owls, wolves, coyotes, and bobcats prey on the mink.
Classification: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia (mammals), Order Carnivora, Family Mustelidae (weasels, ferrets, minks, skunks, otters, badgers), Genus Mustela, Species M. vison (the American mink).
