American Mink

Mustela vison

"Worst Choice" Pet Worst Choice

The American Mink is a member of the weasel family and is related to otters, fishers, and wolverines. These solitary animals are relatively small, averaging about 20 inches in length and weighing 1.5 to 2 pounds. They are found throughout northern North America, usually near water. They are considered semi-aquatic—they are excellent swimmers but also hunt proficiently on land. American Minks are most active at night but can be seen during daylight. They are carnivorous and eat a wide variety of prey including fish, insects, eggs, birds, and mammals. Like other members of the weasel family, minks are ferocious hunters and will attack prey larger than themselves. American Minks are best known for their luxurious fur—there is a long history of trapping them for the fur trade as well as breeding American Minks on fur farms.

Did You Know?

The American Mink is a member of the weasel family and is related to otters, fishers, and wolverines.

Source Sustainability Fair Choice

Does the harvest for wildlife trade or captive breeding of this species harm wild populations?

Some Cause for Concern

Wild populations of American Mink are not considered to be at risk of extinction, although some populations are declining locally. The main threats are habitat loss and trapping for the fur trade. Wild American Mink populations may also be at risk from interbreeding with minks that have been released or escaped from fur farms. Interbreeding of domesticated and wild individuals could alter the genetic integrity and reduce long-term survival of wild populations.

PetWatch Recommendation:

PetWatch has classified the American Mink as a Worst Choice pet. It is not a recommended pet.

Invasion Threat Worst Choice

Does the release or escape of this species into the wild harm the environment and/or economy?

Significant Cause for Concern

The American Mink is a highly invasive species. The mink’s ability to adapt to different habitats and its skill as a predator have enabled the species to establish self-sustaining populations in parts of Europe, Russia, and South America.  Domesticated animals have been introduced into the wild accidentally (escapees from fur farms) and intentionally by fur farmers seeking to increase profit by selling fur from “free-ranging” animals. Introduced American Minks are known to significantly harm native populations, including causing local extinctions of ground nesting birds on islands. In fact, American Minks are thought to be one of the biggest threats to native animals in northern Europe.

PetWatch Recommendation:

PetWatch has classified the American Mink as a Worst Choice pet. It is not a recommended pet.

Animal Welfare Worst Choice

Does harvest, captive breeding, transport, or being kept as a pet harm individual animals?

Significant Cause for Concern

American Minks are solitary animals in the wild. In captivity, animals kept in groups, as is typically done on fur farms, exhibit aggressive behavior and other signs of stress. Researchers recommend that juvenile animals, especially, not be housed in groups. American Minks also need access to water where they can swim and minimize stress. In some cases, American Minks raised for fur may not be killed in a humane manner.

PetWatch Recommendation:

PetWatch has classified the American Mink as a Worst Choice pet. It is not a recommended pet.

Health Threat Worst Choice

Does this animal pose a health risk to native wildlife, humans, livestock and agriculture?

Significant Cause for Concern

American Minks pose a significant health risk to humans and native wildlife. They are known to be carriers of bacteria and parasites that can cause tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and other diseases harmful to humans. Other diseases such as Aleutian mink disease parvovirus (ADV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and the parasitic worms (helminths) T. acutum and S. nasicola are a serious threat to native mammals. The spread of disease by introduced American Minks is thought to be a major factor in the decline of native populations of the European Mink, which is now locally extinct in many parts of its former range.

Also, American Minks are aggressive when provoked and can cause significant harm to humans, native wildlife, and domesticated animals.

PetWatch Recommendation:

PetWatch has classified the American Mink as a Worst Choice pet. It is not a recommended pet.

EcoHealth Alliance works at the intersection of ecosystem, animal and human health through local conservation programs and develops global health solutions to emerging diseases.
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