Food habits of mink in the Turtle Mountain area of Manitoba

Abstract

The food habits of mink in the Turtle Mountain area of southern Manitoba were studied in both grassland and parkland habitats. Scats were collected during the summer and carcasses utilised for obtaining winter data. Feeding experiments were conducted in the laboratory on two mink captured in the study area. Seasonal variation in prey taken by mink was evident. A high percentage occurrence of mammals was recorded during the winter and a slight increase noted in the spring. Utilisation decreased in the early summer followed by an increase in the early autumn... The number of prey taken by mink was large. Potential mammals utilised were 57%, birds 33% fish 80%. Comparison of mammalian prey in grassland and parkland habitats showed that of a potential 13 species available 6 (1966) and 7 (1967) species wer utilised. Thirteen potential species were available in the parkland habitat and 9 were utilised both years. The principal prey class was mammals and auxillary prey classes were birds and fish. Frogs, insects, and crustaceans formed a minor portion of the diet. The principal mammalian species taken by mink was the muskrat Ondatra zibethica. Anseriformes and Ralliformes were the most important orders of birds utilised. Catostomids and Cyprinids were the most important families of fish taken as food by mink. A relationship existed between mammals and the remaining prey classes of food... The feeding habits of mink were related to availability rather than preference for a particular prey item. Results of laboratory feeding experiments showed that mink ate mammals, birds and fish in approximately the same quantities but showed a dislike for frogs.