Tag Archives: American Mink

While birding Lakeshore State Park a cute little American Mink caught my eye. It was grooming itself and scratching its back on the pier, rolling over, it was having a great time. I was a ways off and I don’t think it saw me, it was so cute, what a show it put on! Not a very natural setting but you have to take what you can get in the city…:) A little rain with gloomy skies, mild temps, next to no wind. Images were taken on October 1, 2019.

American Mink…

Rolling over for a back rub…

Chilling…just got finished rubbing its back on the above beam…

Rubbing its chin on the deck…

Thinking…

Looking around…

Looking more…

Stretching out…nap time!

An American Mink has been hanging out near the Fox River in Waukesha. It moves fast along the rocks along the river stopping at locations searching for food in and out of the water. Dan W was there and we had a fun time for awhile photographing this little one gathering food for possible little ones and also food for itself. This female is not always active so one never knows when it will show up. Images were taken on June 19, 2016.

American Mink with crayfish

American Mink

Scientific name: Neovison vison

Type: Mammal

Habitat: Forested areas along, rivers, streams and lakes with dense vegetation. They may also use habitat of swamps and wetlands.

Average life span in the wild: 1 to 3 years

Size: Adults, head and body males 23”-27” long, females 18”-22” long.

Weight: 2 to 3.5 lbs

Diet: Mainly fish, amphibians, crustaceans, small rodents and sometimes insects. Voles are one of their choice meals.

Range: Alaska, Canada and the entire US except for the Southwest.

American Mink with crayfish

In search off….

In search off…

American Mink with crayfish

American Mink with crayfish

American Mink with Bullhead

American Mink with crayfish

A few American Mink have been hanging out near the Fox River in Waukesha. They are not seen often but putting some time in you can get lucky. They move fast along the rocks along the river stopping at their locations searching for food in and out of the water. They are amazing!

American Mink

Scientific name: Neovison vison

Type: Mammal

Habitat: Forested areas along, rivers, streams and lakes with dense vegetation. They may also use habitat of swamps and wetlands.

Average life span in the wild: 1 to 3 years

Size: Adults, head and body males 23”-27” long, females 18”-22” long.

Weight: 2 to 3.5 lbs

Diet: Mainly fish, amphibians, crustaceans, small rodents and sometimes insects. Voles are one of their choice meals.

Range: Alaska, Canada and the entire US except for the Southwest.

The birding was slow this morning along the lakefront in Milwaukee. I had checked all beaches and possible birding locations. I came up empty other than 1 Pied-billed Grebe at Lakeshore State Park. The highlight of the morning was not a bird, but an American Mink at Lakeshore State Park. I ran into a friend and we watched this cute little mammal run in and out of the rocks along the water and at one time ate a vole. I noticed on a couple of images it appeared it had some wood ticks on its body. Images were taken on October 8, 2014.

American Mink

Scientific name: Neovison vison

Type: Mammal

Habitat: Forested areas along, rivers, streams and lakes with dense vegetation. They may also use habitat of swamps and wetlands.

Average life span in the wild: 1 to 3 years

Size: Adults, head and body males 23”-27” long, females 18”-22” long.

Weight: 2 to 3.5 lbs

Diet: Mainly fish, amphibians, crustaceans, small rodents and sometimes insects. Voles are one of their choice meals.

Range: Alaska, Canada and the entire US except for the Southwest.

Tail shot

Tail shot