American Mink - Species Profile
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure SNR - Unranked |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description
The pelage (fur) is light to dark brown except for a white chin patch and white patches on the throat and breast. It does not turn white in winter. The tail is blackish toward the tip.
Size
Total length: 18″ to 27½″
Head and body: 12″ to 17″
Tail: 5″ to 9″
Sign
Similar Species
Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) is much smaller, no more than 8½″ in length including the tail. The underparts and feet are whitish in summer. In winter the pelage is entirely white. The tail is short and may have a few black hairs at the tip but is not black tipped.
Ermine (Mustela erminea) is smaller. The underparts and feet are white or yellowish-white in summer. The tip of the tail is black. In winter the pelage is entirely white except for the black tip of the tail.
Long-tailed Weasel (Neogale frenata) is smaller. The underparts are yellowish-white in summer. The tip of the tail is black. In winter the pelage is entirely white except for the black tip of the tail.
Northern river otter (Lontra canadensis) is much larger, 35″ to 51″ in length including the tail.
Habitat
Densely vegetated areas along streams and lakes; in swamps and marshes
Ecology
Behavior
Mink are most active at night but occasionally hunt during the day.
Lifespan
About 10 years
Life Cycle
Food
Any animals in or near the water. In the summer, crayfish, fish, small frogs, small mammals, and small birds. In the winter mostly mammals.
Distribution |
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Sources Biodiversity occurrence data published by: Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas (accessed through the Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Portal, bellatlas.umn.edu, 12/8/2025). Timm, R. M. 1975. Distribution, natural history, and parasites of mammals of Cook County, Minnesota. Occasional Papers, Bell Museum of Natural History, University of Minnesota 14:1–56. Hazard, Evan B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 280 pp. The counties in light green lack modern records but have historic county or township specimens or records. |
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| 12/8/2025 | |||
Hudson Bay Mink (Neogale vison lacustris) is found along the northern border of Minnesota. Mississippi Valley Mink (Neogale vison letifera) is found in the remainder of the state. |
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Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy
Class
Subclass
Theria
Infraclass
Placentalia (Placental Mammals)
Magnorder
Boreoeutheria
Superorder
Laurasiatheria (Ungulates, Carnivorans, and Allies)
Order
Carnivora (Carnivorans)
Suborder
Caniformia (Dog-like Carnivores)
Infraorder
Arctoidea
Parvorder
Mustelida
Family
Mustelidae (Mustelids)
Subfamily
Mustelinae (Weasels)
Genus
Neogale (New World Weasels)
Genus
This species was originally described in 1777 as Mustela vison. In 2000, based on morphology, it was placed in the new genus Neovison. It was the only member of that genus. Mitochondrial DNA studies published in 2009 and later showed that it is closely related to three weasels in the genus Mustela, and that the group should be assigned a new genus. This was confirmed very recently by an analysis of carnivoran mitogenomes published in 2021. A handful of genus names were suggested, including Vison, Neogale, Cabreragale, and Grammogale. Among these, the name Neogale has priority, having been described as early as 1865, and was adopted.
Subordinate Taxa
Admiralty Island Mink (Neogale vison nesolestes)
Alaskan Mink (Neogale vison ingens)
Aniak Mink (Neogale vison aniakensis)
Atlantic Salt Marsh Mink (Neogale vison lutensis)
California Lowland Mink (Neogale vison aestuarina)
Common Mink (Neogale vison Mink)
East Canadian Mink (Neogale vison lowii)
Eastern Mink (Neogale vison vison)
Everglades Mink (Neogale vison evergladensis)
Gulf Salt Marsh Mink (Neogale vison halilimnetes)
Hudson Bay Mink (Neogale vison lacustris) 
Kenai Mink (Neogale vison melampeplus)
Mississippi Valley Mink (Neogale vison letifera)
Pacific Mink (Neogale vison energumenos)
Southern Mink (Neogale vison vulgivaga)
Vancouver Island Mink (Neogale vison evagor)
Synonyms
Lutreola vison
Mustela vison
Neovison vison
Putorius vison
Common Names
American Mink
Glossary
Pelage
The coat of a mammal, consisting of fur, wool, or hair, and including a soft undercoat and stiff guard hairs.
