Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Mink or Weasel?

I continue to get inquiries from people trying to identify species they see in New Jersey.

Sandi wrote to me because her grandson spotted this mother(?) and two young ones at a stream near her home in Andover. She asks, "Are they mink or weasel?"

Well, reader - what's your call?




The two species (and ferrets) are often confused.

American minks are larger and heavier than North American weasel species, such as the least weasel, the long-tailed weasel and the short-tailed weasel or ermine. Minks are long, slender mammals with long necks and short legs.

Although mink, ermine and weasels all like to live in bottomlands, mink always live near water. They have semi-webbed feet that make them great swimmers.




Residents with homes close to rivers and streams are more likely to encounter minks, while those near woods or farms may have issues with weasels. These animals both prey on chickens and may injure pets if provoked. Weasels and minks will defend themselves against animals twice their size.

The white patch on the front of this young one may be your best clue.

2 comments:

amazonjulie said...

Well, is this a mink or weasel?
With the white?

Endangered NJ said...

Based on that white https://a-z-animals.com/blog/mink-vs-weasel/ we're going with mink. Mink are native New Jersey mammals found in and around freshwater. They and other aquatic and semi-aquatic mammals – including beavers, otters, weasels, ermine, fishers and muskrats – are here in NJ - but not easy to spot.