European mink

The European mink (Mustela lutreola) is a species of mink native to the Northern Hemisphere. Mink are small, discreet, and primarily nocturnal mammals belonging to the weasel family. They are semiaquatic, living near water, and have short legs, a long neck, and a broad head. Their coat is dense and soft, with glossy guard hairs.1

European mink are carnivorous, feeding on frogs, salamanders, fish, crayfish, muskrats, mice, voles, birds, and eggs. They are solitary except during the spring mating season.1

Unfortunately, the European mink is classified as critically endangered. This decline is largely due to the introduction of the American mink into Europe. The American mink is more aggressive and adaptable, displacing the European mink from its habitat. By the 2010s, the European mink population had fallen to a few thousand individuals, with its range significantly reduced.1