Where do minks live?

The American mink lives in forests and near lakes and streams in much of the United States and Canada. It spends much of its time hunting food in the water. It is rare to see the nocturnal mink in the wild.

Minks prey on many different animals that live near the water. They often nest in the dens dug by muskrats, one of their food sources. Other minks locate their dens in hollow stumps or logs near the water. The female produces litters of five to six, with each mink weighing 0.2 ounces. At maturity, a mink weighs 4 to 5 pounds. They are powerful swimmers, diving to depths of 16 feet.