Mink
Mink are a medium-sized, brown weasel that lives in and around waterways throughout Colorado.
About This Species
The mink is a semiaquatic, carnivorous weasel prized for its silky, dark brown coat.
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Physical Characteristics
Males are 20–24 inches long, females about one-fifth smaller. The tail is less than half the length of the body. Weights range from 2-3 ½ pounds. Mink are dark brown, slightly paler on their bellies, with the tip of the tail nearly black. Their toes are partially webbed to aid in swimming.
Commonly Found
Mink are territorial and live in narrow territories along lakes, wetlands, and rivers. They seldom venture far from water, but may range up to 100 yards from water in order to hunt for rabbits or rodents when their aquatic food sources are scarce.
Range
Mink live statewide in Colorado but are most abundant in the mountains, near beaver ponds. Beaver ponds provides still-water habitat and an abundance of food.
Habitat
Mink live in burrows, dens of muskrats or tree hollows but are only weak burrowers.
Diet
Mink primarily eat muskrats, nestling waterfowl, frogs, salamanders, fish, beaver kits and insects; crayfish may be a staple when in-season. Mink kill more food than they can eat at once, and excess food is stored, especially in winter.
Reproduction
Breeding occurs in summer, but implantation of embryos is delayed. Gestation takes five to ten weeks, with one to six (usually four) young born in April or May. Newborns are tiny, but grow quite rapidly, doubling their weight five or six times to reach 40 percent of adult weight by the time they wean at seven weeks of age.
Additional Information
Although coyotes, red foxes or great horned owls occasionally kill them, combat with other mink is a greater cause of death than all predators combined. Beyond that, the leading cause of mortality for minks is the harvest by humans for their fur.