Download . American Mink, Neovison vison Overview Overview table Invasion

A m e r i c a n M i n k , Neovison vison
Overview
.
Short description of Neovison vison, A m e r i c a n M i n k
The American mink is a semi-aquatic mustelid with rich, usually dark brown fur. There
is often a white patch on the chin but this species generally lacks the white upper
lip shown by the European mink M. lutreola. It is a generalist and opportunist predator
with a variable diet that includes aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial prey.
Description of Neovison vison, American Mink status in GB
Author's name:
The American mink is almost ubiquitous in GB but, except for parts of northern
Scotland, Arran, the Outer Hebrides and most offshore islands. The GB population size
was estimated at 36,950 in 2004.
John Marchant, Laura Bonesi
H a b i t a t s u m m a r y : Neovison vison, A m e r i c a n M i n k
Last updated:
September 27th 2016
Mink occupy both freshwater and saltwater habitats. Mink habitually follow waterways,
lake edges and coasts, but cross other habitats regularly. They can often spend time
feeding away from water, where conditions allow.
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Overview table
Environment:
Terrestrial
Species
status:
Non-Native
Native range:
Northwestern U.S.A., North-Central U.S.A.,
Northeastern U.S.A., South-Central U.S.A.,
Southeastern U.S.A., Alberta, British Columbia,
Labrador, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Ontario, Saskatchewan, Yukon
Functional
type:
Predator
Status in
England:
Non-Native
Status in
Scotland:
Non-Native
Status in
Wales:
Non-Native
Date of first
record:
Unknown
Invasion history: Neovison vison, A m e r i c a n M i n k
Origin
The native range is in North America, from southern states of the USA to the edge of
the Arctic Circle in Canada and Alaska.
First Record
The first GB imports of American mink to fur farms were in 1929. Escapes were soon
being reported and the first record from the wild was 1948 but the first breeding in
the wild was not confirmed until 1956.
Pathway and Method
The number of mink farms in GB rose to a peak of around 700 in 1962. From 1929 and
into the 1950s, large shipments of mink were being imported from North America and
Scandinavia. The last GB mink farm closed in 2003. During this long period, many
escapes took place from captivity and many animals were also deliberately released.
The population spread rapidly, especially along rivers, in places reaching offshore
islands.
Species Status
Mink are now widespread in GB. An eradication attempt is nearing completion in the
Outer Hebrides. Mink numbers may have decreased in some areas, especially in
England, with a resurgence of otter populations. American mink are widespread from
Iceland, north Norway and Russia south to Spain and Italy. Other non-native
populations occur in Patagonia and possibly in Japan and other Asian countries. It is
widely regarded as seriously invasive.
Ecology & Habitat: Neovison vison, A m e r i c a n M i n k
Dispersal Mechanisms
Males usually disperse further than females and can disperse up to 50 km from their
natal home range, typically along water bodies.
Reproduction
Males (average 1.2 kg) are much heavier than females (0.7 kg). There is intra-sexual
territoriality with inter-sexual overlap. In the temperate zone mating takes place
between late February and early April. Implantation is delayed and gestation lasts
about 39 days. On average 5.8 young per litter are born between April and May. They
start dispersing in August and reach sexual maturity at 10 months. Life expectancy is
3–4 years in the wild.
Known Predators/Herbivores
Mink may occasionally be taken by raptors and by larger mammalian predators.
Resistant Stages
None.
Habitat Occupied in GB
American mink hunt mostly in water and are most frequently seen in rivers or lakes, or
at the coast. They also occur in a wide range of wooded or scrubby habitats, not
necessarily near water.
Distribution: Neovison vison, A m e r i c a n M i n k
American mink have been introduced widely in Europe, in southern and eastern Russia
and in South America (Argentina and Chile) and possibly also in Japan and other Asian
countries. Numbers are increasing worldwide but apparently decreasing in some
European countries (e.g. GB, Sweden).
I m p a c t s : Neovison vison, A m e r i c a n M i n k
Environmental Impact
Impact on native species can occur through predation, competition, and potentially
also by acting as a vector of disease. Significant population declines of
ground-nesting birds (e.g. Larus ridibundus, Sterna hirundo) and small mammals (e.g.
water vole Arvicola amphibius) have resulted from mink predation in its introduced
range. The European mink (Mustela lutreola), whose range is now restricted to a few
fragmented populations in continental Europe, is threatened with extinction by the
American mink through competition by means of direct aggression. Little is known
about mink as a vector of disease but Aleutian disease has been found in a feral
population and could be transmissible to native mustelids.
Health and Scoial Impact
None.
Economic Impact
Can inflict damage to free-ranging chickens, reared game birds, fisheries (salmon
farming) and the ecotourism industry through predation on ground-nesting birds.
References & Links: Neovison vison, A m e r i c a n M i n k
Identification
Wilson, D.E. & Mittelmeier, R.A. (eds) (2009) Handbook of the Mammals of the World.
Volume 1: Carnivores. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.
Biology, ecology, spread, vectors
Bevanger, K. & Henriksen, G. (1995) The distributional history and present status of
the American mink (Mustela vison Schreber, 1777) in Norway. Annales Zoologici
Fennici, 3 2, 1 1 – 1 4 .
Birks, J.D.S. (1989) What regulates the numbers of feral mink? Nature in Devon, 1 0,
45–61.
Birks, J. (1990) Feral mink and nature conservation. British Wildlife, 1 , 3 1 3 – 3 2 3 .
Birks, J.D.S. & Dunstone, N. (1985) Sex related differences in the diet of the mink
Mustela vison. Holarctic Ecology, 8 , 2 4 5 – 2 5 2 .
Birks, J.D.S. & Linn, I.J. (1982) Studies of home range of the feral mink, Mustela vison.
Symposia of the Zoological Society of London, 4 9, 2 3 1 – 2 5 7 .
Bonesi, L., Harrington, L., Maran, T., Sidorovich, V.E. & Macdonald, D.W. (2006)
Demography of three populations of American mink, Mustela vison, in Europe.
Mammal Review, 3 6, 9 8 – 1 0 6 .
Bonesi, L., Strachan, R. & Macdonald, D.W. (2006) Why are there fewer signs of mink
in England? Considering multiple hypotheses. Biological Conservation, 1 3 0, 2 6 8 – 2 7 7 .
Brzezinski, M. & Marzec, M. (2003) The origin, dispersal and distribution of the
American mink Mustela vison in Poland. Acta Theriologica, 4 8, 5 0 5 – 5 1 4 .
Dunstone, N. & Birks, J.D.S. (1983) Activity budget and habitat usage by coastal-living
mink (Mustela vison Schreber). Acta Zoologica Fennica, 1 7 4, 1 8 9 – 1 9 1 .
Dunstone, N. & Birks, J. (1985) The comparative ecology of coastal, riverine and
lacustrine mink Mustela vison in Britain. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Zoologie, 7 2,
59–70.
Erlinge, S. (1972) Interspecific relations between otter (Lutra lutra) and mink (Mustela
vison) in Sweden. Oikos, 2 3, 3 2 7 – 3 3 4 .
Gerell, R. (1967) Dispersal and acclimatization of the mink (Mustela vison Schreb.) in
Sweden. Viltrevy, 4 , 1 – 3 8 .
Gerell, R. (1971) Population studies on mink Mustela vison in southern Sweden. Oikos,
8, 83–109.
Hammershøj, M. (2003) Population ecology of free-ranging American mink Mustela
vison in Denmark. PhD thesis, Kalø, Denmark.
Jedrzeijewska, B., Sidorovich, V.E., Pikulik, M.M. & Jedrezejewski, W. (2001) Feeding
habits of the otter and the American mink in Bialowieza Primeval Forest (Poland)
compared to other Eurasian populations. Ecography, 2 4, 1 6 5 – 1 8 0 .
Kauhala, K. (1996) Distributional history of the American mink (Mustela vison) in
Finland with special reference to the trends of otter ( Lutra lutra) populations. Annales
Zoologici Fennici, 3 3, 2 8 3 – 2 9 1 .
Maran, T., Kruuk, H., Macdonald, D.W. & Polma, M. (1998) Diet of two species of mink
in Estonia: displacement of Mustela lutreola by Mustela vison. Journal of Zoology, 2 4 5,
218–222.
Romanowski, J. (1990) Minks in Poland. Small Carnivore Conservation, 2 , 1 3 .
Ruiz-Olmo, J., Palazon, S., Bueno, F., Bravo, C., Munilla, I. & Romero, R. (1997)
Distribution, status and colonization of the American mink Mustela vison in Spain.
Journal of Wildlife Research, 2 , 3 0 – 3 6 .
Yamaguchi, N., Rushton, S. & Macdonald, D.W. (2003) Habitat preferences of feral
American mink in the Upper Thames. Journal of Mammalogy, 8 4, 1 3 5 6 – 1 3 7 3 .
Management and impact
Aars, J., Lambin, X., Denny, R. & Griffin, A. (2001) Water vole in the Scottish uplands:
distribution patterns of disturbed and pristine populations ahead and behind the
American mink invasion front. Animal Conservation, 4 , 1 8 7 – 1 9 4 .
Barreto, G.R., Rushton, S.P., Strachan, R. & Macdonald, D.W. (1998) The role of habitat
and mink predation in determining the status and distribution of declining populations
of water voles in England. Animal Conservation, 1 , 1 2 9 – 1 3 7 .
Craik, C. (1997) Long-term effects of North American Mink Mustela vison on seabirds in
western Scotland. Bird Study, 4 4, 3 0 3 – 3 0 9 .
Delibes, M., Clavero, M., Prenda, J., Blázquez, M.D.C. & Ferreras, P. (2004) Potential
impact of an exotic mammal on rocky intertidal communities of northwestern Spain.
Biological Invasions, 6 , 2 1 3 – 2 1 9 .
Ferreras, P. & Macdonald, D.W. (1999) The impact of American mink Mustela vison on
water birds in the upper Thames. Journal of Applied Ecology, 3 6, 7 0 1 – 7 0 8 .
Hammershøj, M. & Asferg, T. (2000) Mink and polecats in Denmark: status, control and
damage to poultry. Mammal Review, 3 0, 2 2 8 .
Harrison, M.D.K. & Symes, R.G. (1989) Economic damage by feral American mink
(Mustela vison) in England and Wales. Mammals As Pests, 242–250.
Hersteinsson, P. (1999) Methods to eradicate the American mink (Mustela vison) in
Iceland. In Proceedings of the Workshop on the control and eradication of non-native
terrestrial vertebrates. Vol. 41, Environmental Encounters, pp. 25–29. Council of Europe
Publishing.
Jefferies, D.J. (2003) The water vole and mink survey of Britain 1996–1998 with a
history of the long term changes in the status of both species and their causes. The
Vincent Wildlife Trust, Ledbury, UK.
Lambin, X., Telfer, S., Denny, R., Aars, J., Griffin, C., Dallas, J. & Piertney, S. (1999) The
roles of isolation and mink predation in water vole metapopulations. Final Report to
the Trustees of the People's Trust for Endangered Species.
Moore, N.P., Roy, S.S. & Helyar, A. (2003) Mink (Mustela vison) eradication to protect
ground-nesting birds in the Western Isles, Scotland, United Kingdom. New Zealand
Journal of Zoology, 3 0, 4 4 3 – 4 5 2 .
Nordström, M., Hogmander, J., Laine, J., Nummelin, J., Laanetu, N. & Korpimäki, E.
(2003) Effects of feral mink removal on seabirds, waders and passerines on small
islands of the Baltic Sea. Biological Conservation, 1 0 9, 3 5 9 – 3 6 8 .
Sidorovich, N.V. & Polozov, A. (2002) Partial eradication of the American mink Mustela
vison as a way to maintain the declining population of the European mink Mustela
lutreola in a continental area. A case study in the Lovat River head, NE Belarus. Small
Carnivore Conservation, 2 6, 1 2 – 1 4 .
Woodroffe, G.L., Lawton, J.H. & Davidson, W.L. (1990) The impact of feral mink
Mustela vison on water voles Arvicola terrestris in the North Yorkshire Moors National
Park. Biological Conservation, 5 1, 4 9 – 6 2 .
Yamaguchi, N. & Macdonald, D.W. (2001) Detection of Aleutian disease antibodies in
feral American mink in southern England. Veterinary Record, 1 4 9, 4 8 5 – 4 8 8 .
General
Birnbaum, C. (2006) NOBANIS Invasive Alien Species Fact Sheet – Mustela vison. In
Online Database of the North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species.
NOBANIS www.nobanis.org. full text
Dunstone, N. (1993) The mink. T. & A.D. Poyser, London.