• The American mink is part of the weasel family, and its scientific name is Neogale vison.
• The mink is an invasive non-native species (INNS) as it is causing environmental and economic damage.
• The American mink was brought over to the UK to be bred for their fur. Unfortunately, they were freed/escaped in the 1950s and 1960s and are now widespread over much of the UK (apart from some areas of Northern Scotland and some islands).
• They are active predators killing anything they can catch, such as ground nesting birds and water voles, which are now at risk of extinction due to mink predation.
• Mink are very territorial and can be seen swimming confidently in rivers.
• You are more likely to spot a mink than an otter as they are not very shy, you can distinguish them from otters due to their smaller size, face and darker fur, along with their white chin.