Who is that animal on the riverbank? A mink! Minks live in Canada and the United States, and many of them have been spotted in the Adirondacks. Although they live in wooded areas, minks also search for food in rivers and streams. Minks are carnivores (animals that survive by eating other animals). Like river otters, minks hunt during the night. Their favorite food is muskrat, but their diet also includes fish, frogs, birds, snakes, mice, and squirrels. When minks go hunting, they move quietly on their stomachs (like a snake) and they can slide through narrow spaces because their bodies are long and slim. Minks sneak up on the animals that they want to eat and they kill them by biting their heads or necks!

A mink's habitat could include a rock pile, hollow log, tree stump, or the old home of a muskrat. Minks store a lot of food in their dens (homes). These animals like to be prepared!

Their fur is chocolate-brown, and many minks have a patch of white fur on their bellies or chins. Their fur is a form of camouflage because it allows them to blend into their surroundings. Swimming is a form of locomotion that minks use. The minks' webbed feet enable them to be good swimmers. Minks also have a good sense of smell, and they can tell when one of their enemies is near them. What kinds of animals eat minks? Foxes, owls, and bobcats! When minks become frightened, they make squealing and hissing noises. Then, they give off a scent that smells like a skunk. Yuck!

Many minks get caught in traps set by hunters. Mink fur is worth a lot of money, and they are used to make coats and scarves.



Which of the following statements describes how a mink searches for its food?

The mink squeals at its prey to let it know that it's going to be eaten.
The mink surprises the animal that it wants to eat and then attacks it.
The mink climbs trees and eats the leaves.
The mink sprays its scent on the animal that it wants to eat.

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