Essay - Mink in Virginia Abstract the American Mink, Mustela Vison, that...

Mink in Virginia

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The American Mink, Mustela vison, that inhabit Virginia also inhabit much of Canada, Alaska and the lower 48 states (excluding parts of ***** southwest). This carnivorous mammal is a small, quick and agile member ***** the weasel family, Mustelidae. The mink has been highly prized for centuries, in Virginia as well ***** other parts of the world, for it valuable pelt. ("Mink - Encyclopedia Americana," 2004) Th***** paper will discuss the life history of the species, the distribution of the mink within ***** state of Virginia, the ecological relationships it *****, and the conservation efforts, if any are being taken, as mink populations had been reported as declining in the state of Virginia in the mid-1980s. (Ogle, Scanlon, Kirkpatrick, & Gwynn, 1985, p. 29)

***** in Virginia

***** American Mink, Mustela vison, ***** inhab***** Virginia also *****it much of Canada, Alaska and the lower 48 states, ***** ***** of the *****). This ***** mammal is a *****, quick ***** agile member of ***** weasel *****, Mustelidae. The mink has been ***** prized for centuries, in Virginia as well as other parts ***** the world, for it ***** pelt. ("Mink - ***** Americana," 2004) ***** ***** will ***** the l*****e history of the *****, the distribution of the mink ***** the state of Virginia, ***** ***** relationships ***** has, and the conservation efforts, if any, that ***** being *****, as mink populations ***** ***** reported as ***** in ***** state of Virginia in the mid-1980s. (Ogle, Scanlon, Kirkpatrick, & Gwynn, *****, p. 29)

Adult male *****s have an overall length ***** 16 to 26 inches and weigh on average between 1.5 to 5 pounds, making them much larger than their European counterpart. Fe***** adult minks are smaller than the males. The coloring of ***** can vary naturally from deep brown to almost black, with a lighter **********, which may have white spotting. ("Mink - Encyclopedia Ameri*****a," 2004)

*****y are primarily solitary animals, except during mating season, and are quite shy. The American mink are expert swimmers ***** divers, *****ly reaching 20 feet in dive depths, and have ***** ability to swim underwater for nearly 100 feet be*****e hav*****g to come up for air. As twilight and nocturnal animals, they are mainly active from dusk ***** the early morning hours of dawn, however they can occasionally be seen active in the daytime. ("Mink - ***** Americana," *****)

In Virginia, the ***** make their homes typically in thickly vegetated areas. *****y can be found along lakes, swamps, marshes, slower moving streams or rivers, and on eight of the Virginia barrier islands. (Keiss, *****00) They ***** ***** move more inland, if prey warrants, but ***** prefer to ***** near a body ***** w*****ter.

***** dens can be discovered in hollow trees, reed thickets, and ***** the underside of roots or rocks. They may also dig *****ir burrows, which ***** average are 10 feet in length and typically 3 feet below the surface, with at least one of the entrances above