American Mink

Neogale vison

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
AMAJF02050
Common Name: 
American Mink
Scientific Name: 
Neogale vison
Synonyms: 
Neovison vison
Vison vison
Mustela vison
Naming References: 
R169
R283
Google image search
Taxonomy
Group: 
Mammal (Terrestrial Mammal)
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Mammalia
Order: 
Carnivora
Family: 
Mustelidae
References: 
R169
General Biology

Female Age at Maturity

12 months
References: 
B113

Longevity

Up to 7 years.
References: 
B113

Economic/Human Considerations

Important fur bearer
References: 
B113
Habitat
Stream banks, lake shores, forest edges, large swamps, and tidal flats.
References: 
B001
H116
Distribution

Ecozones

Southern Arctic, Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 
B113

Distribution

73% of the NWT.
Score: 
G = 2
References: 
B113

Area of Occupancy

Score: 
-
References: 
H126
Population

Population Size

Annual harvest data: 1980s = 6,000 to 7,000; 704 taken in 2007/08. Numbers unknown, but >100,00 (H111).
Score: 
G = 1
References: 
H111
H116

Density

8.5 to 22 per sq. mile in good habitat, as low as 4 in bad.
Trends

Trends

Stable?
References: 
H126
Threats

Threats

Potential localized over-trapping.
Score: 
C = M
References: 
B001
H116

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Water pollution (from upstream sources).
Score: 
-
References: 
B001
H116
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Reviewed in 2004, no new information - no change in status. Reviewed in 2010, no change. Reviewed in 2015, no change. Reviewed in 2020, no change.
Last Updated: 
February 15, 2024

References

Age Of Maturity

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Area of Occupancy

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Economic Status

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Ecozones

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Habitat

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return

Longevity

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Naming

  • Wilson, Don E. and Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005) Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press 3rd ed 2142 pages - R169 Return
  • Bradley, Robert, D., Loren K. Ammerman, Robert J. Baker, Lisa C. Bradley, Joseph A. Cook, Robert C. Dowler, Clyde Jones, David J. Schmidly, Frederick B. Stangl, Jr., Ronald A. Van Den Bussche, and Bernd Würsig (2014) Natural Science Research Laboratory, Occasional Papers 327 28 pp. http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/publications/opapers/ops/OP327.pdf - R283 Return

NWT Known Subspecies

Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return

Population Size

Veitch A (1999) Personal Communication. Supervisor, Wildlife Management, RWED, Norman Wells - H111 Return
,
Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return

Range Extent

  • Novak M et al.(editors) (1987) Wild Furbearer Management and Conservation in North America. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources RWED Library Call #SK355.W5 - B113 Return

Short Term Trends

  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return

Taxonomy

  • Wilson, Don E. and Reeder, DeeAnn M. (2005) Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Johns Hopkins University Press 3rd ed 2142 pages - R169 Return

Threats

  • Banfield AWF (1974) The Mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press RWED Library Call #QL721.B3 - B001 Return
  • Mammals Committee: Ron Graf, Ray Case, Robert Mulders, Suzanne Carrière, Alisdair Veitch, Richard Popko, John Nagy, Jen Lange (1999) Personal Communication. RWED, GNWT - H116 Return