Watch an American mink shake off creek water and explore its surroundings on the East Branch of White Clay Creek. Related to otters and wolverines, this semi-aquatic member of the weasel family can be found along the edges of lakes, rivers, and streams. Mink prefer forested areas near fresh water, another reason to plant streamside forests! As fierce carnivores, mink will eat almost any prey from crayfish to small mammals.
Our furry visitor can also be an important bioindicator of stream health. At the top of the food chain in aquatic environments, mink accumulate many chemical compounds and heavy metals in their tissue, including polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury. Learn more about mink from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Learn more about the long-term research in this mink’s home in White Clay Creek Watershed near the Stroud Center, or read up on our history in the watershed.
