The European mink is more sedentary than the American mink and confines itself for long periods in permanent burrows and temporary shelters near the water’s edge lined with straw, moss, mouse wool, and bird feathers.
The European mink has both a permanent burrow and temporary shelters.
The permanent burrow is used all year except during floods, and is located no more than 6–10 meters (6.6–10.9 yards) from the water’s edge. European mink may construct their own burrows, inhabit an evacuated burrow of a water vole, such as European water vole (Arvicola amphibius) or southern water vole (Arvicola sapidus), or may live in crevices among trees roots. The construction of the burrow is not complex, often consisting of one or two passages 8–10 centimeters (3.1–3.9 inches) in diameter and 1.40–1.50 meters (1.53–1.64 yards) in length, leading to a nest chamber measuring 48 centimeters by 55 centimeters (19 inches by 22 inches). Nesting chambers are lined with straw, moss, mouse wool, and bird feathers.
The European mink is more sedentary than the American mink (Neovison vison), and will confine itself for long periods in its burrow in very cold weather.
• Image | ©️ EfAston, Some Rights Reserved, (CC BY-SA 3.0)
• Sources | (Heptner & Sludskii; 2002; Nowak, 1999; Shalu, 2001; The Wikimedia Foundation, 2020)
