What is this

[WthrLady]

Why an escapee? Wild mink are as common in Minnesota as mosquitoes. And they are tons of mosquitoes!

 

[roosterhavoc]

Why an escapee? Wild mink are as common in Minnesota as mosquitoes. And they are tons of mosquitoes!

Because wild mink don’t normally come in that color. However those colors are commonly bred on mink farms throughout the United States. I’m sure it’s possible though.

 

[WthrLady]

Gotcha.we've seen lighter ones and figured it was a cluster of genetic breeders. Like our group of interbreeding white -red squirrels.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Gotcha.we've seen lighter ones and figured it was a cluster of genetic breeders. Like our group of interbreeding white -red squirrels.

I believe the lighter mink are probably the result of escaped farm mink breeding back with wild mink at some point. I’ll have to look into it. I’ve caught a lot of mink and they’ve all been brown with some being darker than others.

 

[ejtrout31]

The closest mink farm is 4 hour away

 

[roosterhavoc]

The closest mink farm is 4 hour away

Hmm. Might just be a lighter color phase. Pretty neat anyway. Did your dad skin it?

 

[ejtrout31]

Not yet

 

[roosterhavoc]

Not yet

Can you get another picture of it before he does? If not no big deal. I’m just interested in seeing it.

 

[007Sean]

I'm thinking a Least weasel. Color is about right but doesn't have a white underbelly? So don't know for sure...definitely in the Mustelidae family.

 

[roosterhavoc]

I'm thinking a Least weasel. Color is about right but doesn't have a white underbelly? So don't know for sure...definitely in the Mustelidae family.

It’s not a weasel. Here’s a mink and a weasel I caught last weekend. You can see the obvious size difference.