---
title: "American Mink (Neogale vison) | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "A fearless, semi-aquatic hunter that fur-farm escapes set loose in Europe and South America."
image: "https://animaltracks.wiki/images/animals/american-mink-1.webp"
published: "2026-10-12"
updated: "2026-10-12"
---
# American Mink (*Neogale vison*)
> **Status**: Checked against 6 sources, listed under Sources below.
> **Tagline**: A fearless, semi-aquatic hunter that fur-farm escapes set loose in Europe and South America.
> **Soundtrack Vibe**: Jazz-Funk, Soul & Lounge Fusion // Sade, "Smooth Operator"
> **Soundtrack Links**: [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/track/7pLuEMFougkSHXrPBtNxTR) | [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TYv2PhG89A)
> **Vibe Match**: A cool, gliding groove for a sleek swimmer. Oily guard hairs waterproof the mink's coat, and searching for food it can swim up to 30 meters underwater.
## Biological Superpowers & Stats
- **Taxonomy**: *Neogale vison*
- **Danger Level**: Low
- **Conservation Status**: Least Concern ([IUCN Red List](https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2016-1.rlts.t41661a45214988.en))
- **Superpower**: Swims up to 30 meters underwater while hunting, with partially webbed toes and a waterproof coat
- **Habitat**: Forested areas close to water in North America, from streams, ponds and lakes with some sort of brushy or rocky cover nearby; introduced to the British Isles and southern South America
- **Diet**: Crayfish, small frogs, small mammals such as shrews, rabbits, mice and muskrats, plus fish, ducks and other water fowl; mostly mammals in winter
- **Tags**: mammal, mustelid, carnivore, freshwater, wetlands, invasive, solitary-hunter, nocturnal
## Natural History & Behavior
## A weasel built for water
The American mink, *Neogale vison*, is a long, slender member of the weasel family with short legs and a pointy, flat face. Its toes are partially webbed, a sign of its semi-aquatic life. Its fur is soft and thick, and oily guard hairs waterproof the coat.
Body length is usually around 610 millimeters, about 2 feet, with up to half of that being the tail. Females are, on average, substantially smaller than males. Adult females weigh 0.7 to 1.1 kilograms, while males range from 0.9 to 1.6 kilograms. In the wild a mink may live up to 10 years, and one in captivity may reach 11.4 years.
## Fearless on land and underwater
Across North America they favor forested areas close to water. They are mostly active at night, especially near dawn and dusk. They are skilled swimmers and climbers. Searching for food, they can swim up to 30 meters underwater and dive to depths of 5 meters.
Like most mustelids, they are aggressive and fearless predators. They do not hesitate to defend themselves against animals larger than themselves. They live mostly alone, and males are particularly intolerant of one another. They mark the edges of their home range with musky secretions from enlarged anal glands.
Summer meals include crayfish and small frogs, plus shrews, rabbits, mice and muskrats. Fish, ducks and other water fowl provide additional food choices. In winter they primarily prey on mammals.
> **Eiders versus mink**
> In the Brokey archipelago of West Iceland, the invasive American mink cut common eider nest numbers by roughly 60%. Its arrival drove the eiders' population changes more than climate did.
## An escape artist abroad
Fur farms opened the door. In the British Isles, mink escaped from fur farms. In southern Chile and Argentina, mink were imported to fur farms during 1930 to 1950. Accidental escapes and intentional releases then led to feral populations in many areas.
On Navarino Island in Chile, where the native animals evolved without land predators, a study of 414 scats found a diet of mainly mammals and birds. In Finland's Baltic archipelago, researchers found that female mink swam shorter distances as sea eagle predation risk rose.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### How far can an American mink swim underwater?
About 100 feet, or 30 meters, is the upper end of an underwater hunting swim. A mink can also dive as deep as 5 meters. *(Source: [Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan]())*
### How did American mink end up wild in South America?
Through fur farming. Between 1930 and 1950 mink were imported to fur farms in southern Chile and Argentina. Some escaped by accident and others were released on purpose, and feral populations became established in many areas of both countries. *(Source: [Ibarra et al. 2009]())*
### Is the American mink endangered?
No. The IUCN Red List places it in its Least Concern category. *(Source: [Reid, Schiaffini & Schipper 2016]())*
## Sources
1. [Neovison vison (American mink). Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan.]()
2. [AnAge entry for Neovison vison. AnAge: The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database, Build 15, Human Ageing Genomic Resources.]()
3. [Ibarra et al. (2009). Invasive American mink Mustela vison in wetlands of the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, southern Chile: what are they eating? Oryx.]()
4. [Jónsson et al. (2023). Long-term data reveal contrasting impacts of native versus invasive nest predators in Iceland. Ecology Letters.]()
5. [Salo et al. (2008). Risk induced by a native top predator reduces alien mink movements. Journal of Animal Ecology.]()
6. [Reid, Schiaffini & Schipper (2016). Neovison vison. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T41661A45214988.]()
*Published October 12, 2026. Last updated October 12, 2026.*
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