Home/Species/ American Mink

Neogale vison

(von Schreber, 1776)

American Mink

G5Secure Found in 124 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

G5SecureGlobal Rank

Least concernIUCN

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.791856

Element CodeAMAJF02050

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

IUCNLeast concern

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassMammalia

OrderCarnivora

FamilyMustelidae

GenusNeogale

Synonyms

Mustela visonSchreber, 1777Neovison vison(Schreber, 1777)Vison vison(Schreber, 1777)

Other Common Names

American mink (EN) Mink (EN) Vison d'Amérique (FR)

Concept Reference

Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. [As modified by ASM the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) at https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html]

Taxonomic Comments

Based on DNA work done by Kurose et al. (2008) the American mink was removed from Mustela and placed in its own genus Neovison. Patterson et. al. (2021) suggested that the American mink (Neovison vison) and three allied species (Mustela frenata, M. felipei, and M. africana) should now be recognized in the genus Neogale Gray, 1865 rather than Vison Gray 1843 as suggested by Harding and Smith (2009).

Through physical examination of specimens, Humphrey and Setzer (1989) showed three distinct subspecies of mink in Florida. The population from the gulf coast of northern Florida was described as a new subspecies, the status of the Northeastern Florida subspecies lutensis was confirmed; their work could (did) not separate evergladensis of southern Florida from M. v. mink (the eastern US subspecies) and considered it a disjunct population of that subspecies.

Conservation Status

Rank MethodExpertise without calculation

Review Date2016-04-04

Change Date1996-11-18

Edition Date1996-11-18

Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)

Number of Occurrences81 to >300

Rank Reasons

Large range in North America, and introduced and established in the Old World; local declines have occurred, but the species is secure in many areas.

Range Extent Comments

Throughout most of North America north of Mexico except for southwestern U.S. Introduced in Iceland, north-central Europe, British Isles, Norway, Belarussia, Baltic States, Spain, and Siberia (Wozencraft, in Wilson and Reeder 1993).

Occurrences Comments

Numerous occurences.

Ecology & Habitat

Description

A medium-sized mammal with an elongate body, a long tail, small rounded ears, and relatively short legs; pelage is soft, luxurious, and generally rich brown to almost black dorsally; the underparts are paler, sometimes with a whitish chin patch and whitish spotting elsewhere; 5 digits on each foot; head-body 330-430 mm in males, 300-400 mm in females; tail 158-230 mm in males, 128-200 mm in females; mass 681-2310 g in males, 790-1089 g in females; basilar length of skull 58-69 mm (Nowak 1991, Hall 1981, Burt and Grossenheider 1964).

Diagnostic Characteristics

Differs from weasels in having brown rather than white or yellowish underparts. Differs from marten in having a white chin patch (marten has pale buff patch on throat and breast), generally darker pelage (marten's pelage generally is yellowish brown except on the feet and end of the tail), and 4 rather than 5 upper postcanine teeth. Differs from the fisher in having 4 rather than 5 upper postcanine teeth, a white chin patch, and smaller size. River otter is much larger (up to 130 cm total length and 11 kg).

Habitat

Favors forested, permanent or semipermanent wetlands with abundant cover, marshes, and riparian zones Dens in muskrat burrow, abandoned beaver den, hollow log, hole under tree roots, or in burrow dug by mink in streambank.

Ecology

Solitary except during mating period and when females have young.

In good habitat, density may be 9-22 per sq mile (Banfield 1974).

Reproduction

Breeds in northern states late February to early May, peak in March. Gestation lasts 40-75 (average 51) days; implantation is delayed. Litter size is 2-10 (average 3-4). Young begin to venture from nest after about 7 weeks, weaned at 8-9 weeks. Male sometimes may help care for young. Sexually mature in 10 months.

Palustrine Habitats

HERBACEOUS WETLANDSCRUB-SHRUB WETLANDFORESTED WETLANDRiparian

Other Nations (2)

United StatesN5

Province	Rank	Native
Idaho	S3	Yes
Massachusetts	S5	Yes
Colorado	S5	Yes
California	SNR	Yes
Georgia	S5	Yes
Utah	S3	Yes
New Hampshire	S5	Yes
Missouri	S4	Yes
Mississippi	S5	Yes
New Jersey	S5	Yes
South Dakota	S5	Yes
Washington	S5	Yes
Nevada	S4	Yes
Tennessee	S5	Yes
Navajo Nation	S3	Yes
Kansas	S4	Yes
Ohio	SNR	Yes
New York	S5	Yes
Arkansas	S5	Yes
West Virginia	S4	Yes
Maryland	S4	Yes
Connecticut	S5	Yes
New Mexico	S1	Yes
Minnesota	SNR	Yes
Maine	S5	Yes
Kentucky	S5	Yes
Virginia	S5	Yes
North Dakota	S5	Yes
Illinois	S5	Yes
Oregon	S5	Yes
Delaware	S3	Yes
Nebraska	S5	Yes
Florida	S5	Yes
North Carolina	S4	Yes
Alabama	S5	Yes
Indiana	S5	Yes
Rhode Island	S5	Yes
Oklahoma	SNR	Yes
Alaska	S5	Yes
Louisiana	S5	Yes
Texas	S4	Yes
District of Columbia	S1	Yes
Vermont	S5	Yes
Iowa	S4	Yes
Pennsylvania	S5	Yes
Michigan	S5	Yes
Montana	S4	Yes
Wyoming	S5	Yes
Wisconsin	S5	Yes
South Carolina	S3	Yes

CanadaN5

Province	Rank	Native
Nova Scotia	S5	Yes
Quebec	S5	Yes
Yukon Territory	S5	Yes
Island of Newfoundland	SNA	No
Saskatchewan	S5	Yes
Manitoba	S5	Yes
Prince Edward Island	S5	Yes
Alberta	S5	Yes
Nunavut	SU	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Ontario	S4	Yes
New Brunswick	S5	Yes
Labrador	S5	Yes
Northwest Territories	S5	Yes

Threat Assessments

Threat	Scope	Severity	Timing
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture	—	—	High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops	—	—	High (continuing)
5 - Biological resource use	—	—	High (continuing)
5.1 - Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	—	—	High (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvesting	—	—	High (continuing)
9 - Pollution	—	—	High (continuing)
9.2 - Industrial & military effluents	—	—	High (continuing)

Roadless Areas (124)

Alabama (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Oakey Mountain	Talladega National Forest	6,129

Alaska (36)

Area	Forest	Acres
Behm Islands	Tongass National Forest	4,777
Bering Lake	Chugach National Forest	965,076
Chichagof	Tongass National Forest	555,858
Chilkat-West Lynn Canal	Tongass National Forest	199,772
Christoval	Tongass National Forest	9,129
Cleveland	Tongass National Forest	189,447
Dall Island	Tongass National Forest	105,780
Douglas Island	Tongass National Forest	28,065
Duke	Tongass National Forest	45,091
Eudora	Tongass National Forest	195,022
Freshwater Bay	Tongass National Forest	44,933
Game Creek	Tongass National Forest	54,469
Gravina	Tongass National Forest	37,381
Hyder	Tongass National Forest	121,723
Juneau Urban	Tongass National Forest	101,581
Juneau-Skagway Icefield	Tongass National Forest	1,187,268
Keku	Tongass National Forest	10,869
Kogish	Tongass National Forest	65,216
Middle Kruzof	Tongass National Forest	14,724
North Baranof	Tongass National Forest	314,089
North Kruzof	Tongass National Forest	33,146
North Kupreanof	Tongass National Forest	114,660
North Revilla	Tongass National Forest	215,430
Outer Islands	Tongass National Forest	99,862
Port Alexander	Tongass National Forest	120,681
Redoubt	Tongass National Forest	68,347
Revilla	Tongass National Forest	29,298
Rhine	Tongass National Forest	23,010
Rocky Pass	Tongass National Forest	78,163
Sitka Sound	Tongass National Forest	13,459
Sitka Urban	Tongass National Forest	112,003
South Kruzof	Tongass National Forest	55,193
South Revilla	Tongass National Forest	52,105
Taku-Snettisham	Tongass National Forest	664,928
Tenakee Ridge	Tongass National Forest	20,527
Thorne River	Tongass National Forest	72,983

California (11)

Area	Forest	Acres
Chanchelulla	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	3,915
Cow Creek	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	22,627
Horse Mdw.	Inyo National Forest	5,687
Little French C	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	11,529
Mt. Olsen	Inyo National Forest	2,161
Nessie	Inyo National Forest	830
Panther	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	12,016
Portuguese	Klamath National Forest	18,915
Salt Gulch	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	6,511
South Fork	Shasta-Trinity National Forest	16,786
Timbered Crater	Lassen National Forest	4,096

Colorado (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Dome Peak	Routt NF	35,716
Long Park	Routt NF	42,100
Troublesome South	Routt NF	47,359

Idaho (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
North Lochsa Slope	Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest	117,662
Palisades	Caribou-Targhee National Forest	122,002

Minnesota (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Baker - Homer - Brule Lakes	Superior National Forest	6,712
Brule Lake - Eagle Mountain	Superior National Forest	12,380
Kawishiwi Lake To Sawbill	Superior National Forest	15,305

Missouri (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Spring Creek Rare II Study Area	Mark Twain National Forest	4,899

Montana (16)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Lewis and Clark National Forest	344,022
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Lolo National Forest	118,485
Big Snowy Mountains Wsa	Lewis and Clark National Forest	88,003
Bmss Ra 1485	Flathead National Forest	334,275
Evans Gulch	Lolo National Forest	8,059
Freezeout Mountain	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	97,305
Hoodoo	Lolo National Forest	105,162
Hyalite - Porcupine - Buffalo Horn Wilderness Study Area	Gallatin National Forest	143,991
Maple Peak	Lolo National Forest	6,469
Patricks Knob - North Cutoff	Lolo National Forest	16,970
Quigg	Lolo National Forest	67,267
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)	Bitterroot National Forest	114,953
Silver King	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest	64,289
South Siegel - South Cutoff	Lolo National Forest	13,474
Stony Mountain	Bitterroot National Forest	44,057
Stony Mountain	Lolo National Forest	32,796

Nevada (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Pearl Peak	Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest	71,405

New Hampshire (3)

Area	Forest	Acres
Kearsarge	White Mountain National Forest	4,554
Sandwich Range	White Mountain National Forest	16,797
Wild River	White Mountain National Forest	46,878

North Carolina (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Cheoah Bald	Nantahala National Forest	7,795
Overflow Creek	Nantahala National Forest	3,379

Oregon (6)

Area	Forest	Acres
Calf - Copeland Creek	Umpqua National Forest	15,696
Homestead	Wallowa-Whitman National Forest	5,817
North Kalmiopsis	Siskiyou National Forests	91,560
Shasta Costa	Siskiyou National Forests	14,420
Tenmile	Siuslaw National Forest	10,818
W - T Three	Umatilla National Forest	1,705

Pennsylvania (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Tracy Ridge	Allegheny National Forest	9,034

Utah (16)

Area	Forest	Acres
0401002	Ashley National Forest	36,113
0401023	Ashley National Forest	8,352
0401032	Ashley National Forest	6,471
418013	Uinta National Forest	14,643
418024	Uinta National Forest	51,699
418025	Uinta National Forest	32,698
Boulger - Black Canyon	Manti-Lasal National Forest	23,286
East Mountain	Manti-Lasal National Forest	30,705
Lewis Peak	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	11,616
Mt. Logan North	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	18,930
Mt. Logan South	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	17,014
Mt. Olympus	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	9,982
Solomon Basin	Fishlake National Forest	19,963
Twin Peaks	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	6,157
Upper South Fork	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	16,811
Wellsville	Wasatch-Cache National Forest	1,717

Vermont (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bread Loaf	Green Mountain and Finger Lakes National Forests	1,768

Virginia (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Oliver Mountain	George Washington National Forest	13,090
The Priest	George Washington National Forest	5,737

Washington (7)

Area	Forest	Acres
Granite Mountain	Okanogan National Forest	27,428
Jackson Creek	Colville National Forest	3,003
Lightning	Olympic National Forest	7,179
Madison Creek	Olympic National Forest	1,223
Moonlight Dome	Olympic National Forest	4,919
Nason Ridge	Wenatchee National Forest	19,329
Willow Springs	Umatilla National Forest	10,414

West Virginia (1)

Area	Forest	Acres
Little Allegheny Mountain	Monongahela National Forest	10,514

Wyoming (11)

Area	Forest	Acres
Canyon Creek	Shoshone National Forest	7,530
Gros Ventre Mountains	Bridger-Teton National Forest	106,418
Illinois Creek	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	6,711
Little Snake	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	9,920
Palisades	Targhee National Forest	1,121
Pass Creek	Shoshone National Forest	6,172
Platte River Addition	Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest	7,962
Reef	Shoshone National Forest	16,817
Salt River Range	Bridger-Teton National Forest	235,661
West Slope Tetons	Targhee National Forest	47,448
Wilderness Study Area	Targhee National Forest	51,961

References (30)

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