Status
Conservation status
Least Concern
Legal status
Third Schedule listed species under Regulations 49 & 50 in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. (Note: Regulation 50 not yet enacted).
The Fur Farming (Prohibition) (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 made it illegal to conduct fur farming in Northern Ireland.
Listed as a schedule 9 species under Articles 15 & 15A of the Wildlife Order (Northern Ireland) 1985 (Article 15A not yet enacted).
First reported in the wild
1961
Invasiveness
Invasive species - risk of High Impact
Irish status
Established
Introduction pathways - 1
Escape from Confinement
Introduction pathways subclass - 1
Fur farms
Invasive score
20
NAPRA Ireland risk assessed
No
Species Biology
Identification
Semi aquatic, medium sized mustelid (family of mammalian carnivores including badgers, otters, pine marten, stoat and the invasive feral ferret), generally dark brown appearing almost black, much smaller than an otter but larger than a stoat or pine marten (Dunstone & Macdonald, 2008). Slightly bushy tail, approximately half the length of the body, generally has a white chin patch (not to be confused with the pale throat patch of a pine marten) (Dunstone & MacDonald, 2008). Sexually dimorphic (males larger than females) which may be linked to niche partitioning, (males and females feeding on different prey items) (Thom et al., 2004)
Ecology
Mink tend to have local scale impacts on breeding birds, fish and crayfish populations in its European range (Bonesi & Palazon, 2007) with the main species affected by mink in Ireland are waterfowl, island-nesting birds and terns (Sterna spp.) (Small, 1991 in Bonesi & Palazon, 2007). Mink populations seem to be declining in some parts of Europe (Bonesi & Palazon, 2007) possibly related to local recoveries of otter populations (Bonesi et al., 2006; Bonesi & MacDonald, 2004). Mink populations tend to be positively correlated with crayfish populations (Wolffe et al., 2015), so the potential introduction of invasive crayfish to Ireland could have the knock on effect of increasing mink densities (Melero et al., 2014).
Habitat
Coastal, Inland surface waters; Mires, bogs & fens; Heath, scrubland & tundra; Woodland, forest and other wooded land; Estuaries
Reproduction
Polygynous, females maintain territories for the breeding season with males tending to disperse in search of receptive females, breeding season March - April, with 1 litter of 4-6 kits born in May (Dunstone & MacDonald, 2008; Yamaguchi & Macdonald, 2003).
Pathway and vector description
Fur farming of mink in Ireland began in the early 1950s and by 1969 there were an estimated 125,000 mink in captivity in Ireland (Deane & O'Gorman, 1969). In 1961 and again in 1965 approximately 15 mink escaped from a fur farm near Omagh and by 1969 there was a breeding population on the River Stule, Co Tyrone (Deane & O'Gorman, 1969). Subsequent escapes likely followed the same pattern as these early colonists and mink are now widespread in Ireland.
Mechanism of impact
Competition, Predation
Broad environment
Terrestrial
Habitat description
Generally associated with aquatic habitats, favouring riparian habitats with abundant bankside cover but may occur away from rivers where suitably prey is abundant (Dunstone & MacDonald, 2008, Halliwell & MacDonald, 1996). In Ireland, mink appear to be more plastic in their habitat requirements and were found to occur in agricultural landscapes, bog, moor, heath and mire, broad leaved woodland and scrub (Roy et al., 2009). Studies of mink in Scotland suggest that they are more likely to use marine habitats during control programs (Bodey et al., 2010).
Species group
Vertebrate
Native region
North America
Similar species
Distribution
World distribution(GBIF)
Irish distribution
Established - Widespread & Common.
Native distribution
Native to North America range extends from Alaska and northern Canada down to mid-west of America (does not occur in dry parts of the USA e.g. southern California, Texas or Arizona, or into Mexico) (Dunstone & MacDonald, 2008).
Temporal change
Date of first record category
1961-1970
Fifty year date category
1951-2000
Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024
The following map is interactive. If you would prefer to view it full screen then click here.
How can you help
Report any sightings to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
Further information
Delivering Alien Invasive Species In Europe (DAISIE) project list the American mink as one of the 100 Worst Invaders in Europe.
References
Publications
Bodey, T. W., Bearhop, S., Roy, S. S., Newton, J., & McDonald, R. A. (2010). Behavioural responses of invasive American mink Neovison vison to an eradication campaign, revealed by stable isotope analysis. Journal of Applied Ecology, 47(1), 114-120.
Bonesi, L., & Macdonald, D. W. (2004). Impact of released Eurasian otters on a population of American mink: a test using an experimental approach. Oikos, 106(1), 9-18.
Bonesi, L., Strachan, R., & Macdonald, D. W. (2006). Why are there fewer signs of mink in England? Considering multiple hypotheses. Biological Conservation, 130(2), 268-277.
Bonesi, L., & Palazon, S. (2007). The American mink in Europe: status, impacts, and control. Biological Conservation, 134(4), 470-483.
Dunstone, N. & MacDonald, D.W. (2008) American mink Mustel vision In: Mammals of the British Isles: Handbook, 4th edition, Harris S. & Yalden, D.W. (eds). The Mammal Society, Southampton.
Melero, Y., Palazón, S., & Lambin, X. (2014). Invasive crayfish reduce food limitation of alien American mink and increase their resilience to control. Oecologia, 174(2), 427-434.
Roy, S., Reid, N. & McDonald, R.A. (2009) A review of mink predation and control in Ireland. Irish Wildlife Manuals, No. 40. National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Dublin, Ireland.
Smal, C. M. (1991). Population studies on feral American mink Mustela vison in Ireland. Journal of Zoology, 224(2), 233-249.
Thom, M. D., Harrington, L. A., & Macdonald, D. W. (2004). Why are American mink sexually dimorphic? A role for niche separation. Oikos, 105(3), 525-535.
Wolff, P. J., Taylor, C. A., Heske, E. J., & Schooley, R. L. (2015). Habitat selection by American mink during summer is related to hotspots of crayfish prey. Wildlife Biology, 21(1), 9-17.
Yamaguchi, N., & Macdonald, D. W. (2003). The burden of co-occupancy: intraspecific resource competition and spacing patterns in American mink, Mustela vison. Journal of Mammalogy, 84(4), 1341-1355.
Relevant links
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species