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American Mink (Neovison vison)

An agile hunter being spotted along the shores of ponds and rivers in larger parks around Montreal. American Mink is a semi aquatic species and swims and dives in the water.

Best Locations and Seasons for Sightings

I saw American Minks in two parks around Montreal: Rapids Park Lachine and Park de la Frayere. The animal can be active during the day and with a bit luck you can observe it hunting for birds and smaller mammals.

"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from my park visit journals.

Identification and Similar Species

I identify the American Mink by its brown to dark brown fur and its thin, elongated body shape. When observing it swimming at larger distance, it looks very similar to a beaver or muskrat. Fortunately, the fashion of swimming is different as it lacks the typical tail movement of beavers or muskrats.

All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz

Last updated: 2024-12-19