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Beauty of Nature
Mink may be present at all hours, even when people are nearby, and I am so very grateful that I
received these fantastic opportunities to take photos of, not only one but three different Minks at
two different locations in Sweden during the same week. These snapshots below are the result of
my first encounter with these little rascals, let us hope that I will succeed with taking some more
in the nearby future.
*The information below was found on internet*
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NIKON D300S 1/400sec, F7,1 ISO400 (200mm)S-Mode, +1
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The mink has a body length of 30-45 cm in length excluding the tail of 13-23 cm. The male is larger
than the female; he weighs between 1-1.5 kg, while the female usually weighs around 0.75 kg.
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| NIKON D300S 1/400sec, F7,1 ISO400 (200mm)S-Mode, +1 |
The fur is dark brown with a dark undercoat and dark hairs (unlike the similar ferret, which has light
hairs and undercoat). The mink could also have a white hookworm stain, but not ferret-white
markings around his nose and face.
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NIKON D300S 1/400sec, F10 ISO400 (200mm)S-Mode, +1
The mink is adapted to a life both in water and on dry land. |
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NIKON D300S 1/400sec, F10 ISO400 (200mm)S-Mode, +1
Wild animals are rarely older than 4 years . |
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NIKON D300S 1/400sec, F8 ISO400 (200mm)S-Mode, +1
The core area is usually associated with a good food supply, such as a pool rich in fish |
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO2800 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 | | |
This Mink, was not aware of me in the beginning, I managed to spot him from a distance and
was lucky that he was going towards the spot where I was hiding with my camera ready
to take these wonderful shots.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
I spotted him on the side of the creek closest to where I was hiding. And in the beginning I was
unsure if this little one was of the same specie as the one I had met earlier this week. However
when I noticed the white hookworm stain I understood that this was also a little Mink.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
They can dive under water like an otter to capture fish, crayfish, and frogs. They can also
capture terrestrial prey like birds, snakes, mice, voles, and rabbits.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
The mink reside in fresh or salt water and in water-related areas in rivers, lakes and marshes.
Their diet is varied. In summer mainly larger crustaceans, amphibians and small mammals
also gulls and ducks, especially kids. In winter, take the main fish.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
Shortly after taking this shot, the Mink discovered me and dived immediately and
dissapeared without my reach
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
I was so very lucky this day, when the first little one had dissapeared another Mink came
towards my direction on the other side of the creek. I did not even have to change my location
and therefore I was able to shot another set of photos to share with you all.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
When the Mink noticed me he stopped for a second.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
He looked in the direction of the sound of me taking photos.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
Both aquatic animals (fish, crayfish, and frogs) that terrestrial (voles, birds) is included in the diet.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
The mink can add up food supplies. It is an important predator of ground-nesting birds, their
eggs and young, and the crayfish. Mink are semi aquatic predators able to hunt both
aquatic and terrestrial prey.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
Mink are generalist predators focusing on whatever prey is most available and easily captured.
These animals are mainly active at night and do not hibernate.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
A mink male has a home range, which extends up to 3 km along a stream. Females,
especially young females, usually move in small areas. Each territory has one or two
central areas (core areas) where the mink spends most of its time.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
The core area is usually associated with a good food supply, such as a pool rich in fish, or
a good rabbit warren. The mink may stay in its core area, which can be quite small, for
several days at a time, but it also makes excursions to the ends of its territory.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
These excursions seem to be associated with the defence of the territory against intruders.
It is likely that the mink checks for any signs of a strange mink and leaves droppings
redolent of its personal scent to reinforce its territorial rights.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
Mink are very territorial animals. A male mink will not tolerate another male within its territory,
but appears to be less aggressive towards females. Generally, the territories of both male
and female animals are separate, but a female's territory may sometimes overlap with that
of a male. Very occasionally it may be totally within a male's.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO3200 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
Mink mating occurs in February to April.The mink will start breeding in March.
The male can mate with several females, so-called polygamy.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO2800 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
Cubs (3-6) are born in early May. During July and August are the kid’s independence and
many young animals migrate to new areas. Mink show the curious phenomenon of delayed
implantation. Although the true gestation period is 39 days, the embryo may stop
developing for a variable period, so that as long as 76 days may elapse before the
litter arrives. Between 45 and 52 days is normal.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO1600 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
There is only one litter per year. They may have between six and ten cubs or kittens per litter.
The eyes open after a month, and they are weaned after just fewer than two. They leave the
mother after about four months, in the fall, and become sexually mature at about 1 year old.
Wild animals are rarely older than 4 years.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO1600 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
The mink was not one originally the Swedish fauna. Usually focuses on mink in relation to water.
The mink is adapted to a life both in water and on dry land. The species is seen as a threat to
many of our native species, primarily ground-nesting birds.
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| NIKON D300S 1/1600sec, F5,6 ISO1600 (200mm)S-Mode, +1,3 |
Great Horned Owls and foxes are the natural predators of mink. However, mink are
much more frequently killed by human activity. Mink are often hunted to protect the fish
population of bodies of water, are hit by cars and are trapped for their fur
(although more commonly farmed for their fur).
