Nature Notes : vimarsana.com

Wharfedale Naturalists Society
AN overcast November day and I was by the River Wharfe. Nothing unusual in that but, more significantly, a mammal was moving on the opposite bank. Initially, I could only see a head poking up between rocks. However, it was enough to identify it as an American Mink. Over a few days I saw it again, watching as it darted amongst rocks and occasionally slid below the surface of the water.
Mink are members of the Mustelid family that includes Otters, Stoats, and Weasels (amongst others). They live a semi-aquatic existence, staying close to water, and feeding on mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates. Although they inhabit the same environment, Mink are easy to differentiate from Otters. They are smaller, have a fluffier and less robust tail, have a more pointed muzzle, and float higher in the water when swimming on the surface.