How to identify it
Long, low dark-brown mustelid with a narrow tail and a small white chin patch; substantially smaller than a river otter. [1]
Where it lives
Shorelines, marshes and wooded waterways across North America. [1]
How it behaves
Mostly nocturnal, especially near dawn and dusk; movements are quick and erratic. [2][3]
Solitary; marks territory with anal-gland secretions and can discharge a foul-smelling liquid when threatened. [2][3]
Strong swimmer that dives to about 5 m; dens in riverbank burrows or dens taken over from other mammals. [2][3]
Eats crayfish and frogs in summer and small mammals (including muskrats), fish and waterfowl year-round, with mammals dominating winter diet. [2][3]
Where it is listed for legal take
These authorities list this species for legal take in their own regulations.
Where legal take is listed
- Alberta — trapping · Alberta Guide to Trapping Regulations 2026-2027
- British Columbia — trapping · 2026-2028 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis
- Manitoba — trapping · Trapping of Wild Animals Regulation, M.R. 245/90, Schedule A
- New Brunswick — trapping · Hunt & Trap Regulations Summary 2026–2027
- Newfoundland and Labrador — trapping · 2026-27 Hunting and Trapping Guide
- Northwest Territories — trapping · NWT Summary of Hunting and Trapping Regulations, July 1 2022 - June 30 2023
- Nova Scotia — trapping · 2026 Hunting and Fur Harvesting Summary of Regulations
- Ontario — trapping · O. Reg. 670/98 Open Seasons — Wildlife (read via e-Laws .doc export)
- Prince Edward Island — trapping · Wildlife Conservation Act — Hunting and Trapping Seasons Regulations (consolidated to 2022-09-03)
- Québec — trapping · Périodes de piégeage
- Saskatchewan — trapping · 2026-27 Trappers Guide
- Alabama — trapping · Furbearer Trapping Season 2026-2027 (ADCNR)
- Alaska — trapping · 2026-2027 Alaska Trapping Regulations No. 67
- Arkansas — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook (PDF)
- California — hunting, nuisance or unprotected take · California Trapping Laws and Regulations (rev. 5/1/2025), FGC and 14 CCR excerpts
- Colorado — hunting, trapping · 2 CCR 406-3 Chapter W-3 Furbearers and Small Game, Except Migratory Birds (07/16/2026; eff. 2026-09-01)
- Connecticut — trapping · 2026 Connecticut Hunting and Trapping Guide
- Delaware — trapping · 2026-27 Delaware Hunting & Trapping Guide: Furbearer Trapping & Hunting
- Georgia — trapping · 2026-2027 Georgia Hunting and Fishing Regulations and Seasons (official WRD guide, publuu-hosted PDF, p.16)
- Idaho — trapping · Upland Game, Turkey & Furbearer 2026 & 2027 Seasons & Rules
- Illinois — trapping · Illinois Digest of Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-2027 (PDF read from cached copy of the digest linked on this page)
- Indiana — hunting, trapping · Indiana Hunting & Trapping Guide 2026-2027: Furbearer Hunting
- Iowa — hunting, trapping · 2026-27 Iowa Hunting, Trapping & Migratory Game Bird Regulations (DNR PDF; page numbers cited)
- Kansas — hunting, trapping · Kansas Hunting & Furharvesting Regulations Summary, Fall 2025-Spring 2026
- Kentucky — hunting, trapping · Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide, August 2026-March 2027
- Louisiana — trapping · 2026-2027 Louisiana Trapping Regulations
- Maine — trapping · 2026-27 Maine Trapping Lawbook
- Maryland — trapping · 2026-27 Maryland Guide to Hunting & Trapping (official guide, linked from dnr.maryland.gov/huntersguide)
- Minnesota — trapping · Minnesota Hunting & Trapping Regulations (effective July 2026 - June 30, 2027)
- Mississippi — trapping · Furbearer & Trapping (MDWFP)
- Missouri — trapping · A Summary of Missouri Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026
- Montana — trapping · 2026 Wolf, Furbearer, Trapping and Hunting Regulations
- Nebraska — hunting, trapping · Small Game & Waterfowl Guide 2025-2026
- Nevada — hunting, trapping · CR 26-13 2026-27 & 2027-28 Seasons, Bag Limits ... Upland Game Birds, Rabbits, Wild Turkey, Furbearers
- New Hampshire — hunting, trapping · Fis 300 Wildlife Seasons and Rules
- North Dakota — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 Small Game, Waterfowl and Furbearer Proclamation
- Ohio — trapping · Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2026-27 (effective 1 Sep 2026-31 Aug 2027); PDF read from cached copy
- Oklahoma — hunting, trapping · Furbearer/Coyote Regulations
- Oregon — hunting, trapping · Oregon Furbearer Trapping & Hunting Regulations, July 1 2026 - June 30 2028
- Pennsylvania — trapping · 2026-27 Seasons and Bag Limits
- Rhode Island — trapping · Hunting and Trapping Regulations (250-RICR-60-00-9)
- South Carolina — hunting, trapping · 2026-2027 South Carolina Hunting & Fishing Laws and Regulations Guide
- South Dakota — hunting, trapping · 2026 South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook
- Tennessee — hunting, trapping · Summary of Tennessee Hunting and Trapping Seasons Dates | TWRA
- Texas — hunting, trapping · Outdoor Annual: Seasons & Bag Limits: Fur-bearing Animals
- Utah — hunting, trapping · 2026 Black Bear, Cougar and Furbearer Guidebook
- Vermont — trapping · 2026 Vermont Guide to Hunting & Trapping Laws (official lawbook, publisher-hosted)
- Virginia — trapping · Furbearer Trapping Regulations and Seasons | Virginia DWR
- Washington — trapping · 2026 Washington Game Bird and Small Game Hunting Regulations (Jul 1 2026 - Jun 30 2027)
- West Virginia — trapping · West Virginia 2026-2027 Hunting Season Dates | WVDNR
- Wyoming — hunting, trapping · WGFC Ch. 4 Furbearing Animal Hunting or Trapping Seasons (dated Jul 14 2021; matches 2026/27 brochure)
Being listed is not an open season. Seasons, zones, licences, methods and limits decide whether this animal may be taken on a given day and place — check Hunt or the authority before you go. Listings read 2026-09-30.
Where it is found
North America
Sources
Every claim above is attributed to one of these published sources.
- BIOLOGICALVison d'Amérique
Gouvernement du Québec · reviewed 2026-09-20
Gouvernement du Québec
- BIOLOGICALNeovison vison (American mink)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology · reviewed 2026-09-30
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
- BIOLOGICALAmerican Mink Species Profile
Alaska Department of Fish and Game · reviewed 2026-09-30
Alaska Department of Fish and Game