Swamp Things BioBlitz Spotlight Species #9

Spotlight Species #9:
American mink (Neogale vison)

What to Look For:
Considered by some to be the cutest member of the weasel family, the American Mink is relatively easy to identify. It has the typical weasel physique being long and slender. They have a thick glossy coat colored brown to black with a white patch under its chink and throat. The American Mink has a bounding gait when on land and is absolutely adorable to watch in the wild.

Where to Find It:
The species is associated with water and is found near streams, rivers, lakes, swamps, marshes, and coastlines. They are skilled swimmers and can swim to depths of 100 feet! They can swim for long periods of time. They are carnivores that feed on rodents, fish, crustaceans, frogs, and birds and will be found wherever food is plentiful. American minks prefer areas with vegetative cover so they can hide.

Locally, American mink are often spotted at Huntington Beach State Park.

Why It Is a Spotlight Species:
The American mink is one of only two living mink species. These unique and adorable swamp things are a special species in our watershed and throughout the Americas. The American mink is a species of least concern - meaning it is not an endangered or threatened species. Still, protecting one of the only existing mink species is important and maintaining healthy habitats - like our swamps - is integral to protecting them.

Posted on 20 de março de 2023, 06:04 PM by waccamaw_riverkeeper waccamaw_riverkeeper

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