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© 2020 - 2025 Waterlife Recovery Trust All Rights Reserved. | Charity no. 1198223
© 2020 - 2025 Waterlife Recovery Trust All Rights Reserved. | Charity no. 1198223
The American mink is a non-native, semi-aquatic predator introduced to the UK in the 1920s for fur farming. After escaping or being released from captivity, mink established wild populations across the country. They are agile swimmers and effective hunters, thriving along rivers, lakes, and wetlands. While they may appear sleek and charismatic, their presence in the UK has had a devastating impact on native wildlife.
One of the mink’s most significant effects has been on the water vole, a native species now endangered in many areas. Water voles have few natural defences against mink, and populations can be wiped out quickly where mink are present. Mink also prey on ground-nesting birds, amphibians, and other small mammals, making them a serious threat to the UK’s biodiversity. Because of this, mink are considered an invasive species, and efforts are ongoing to protect native ecosystems.
They typically have dark brown fur, which can appear black when wet, along with a small, narrow nose and a long fluffy tail. They can occasionally be other colours, such as black, grey, white, or even a morph that is white with black markings. They generally have a vibrant white patch on the chin, though not always, and can also have white markings on the throat, chest, and abdomen, which are more visible on a carcass.
A mink is similar in size to a ferret or polecat, but larger than a stoat or weasel, and much smaller than a fully-grown otter.
The polecat is a native UK mammal and a close relative of the domestic ferret. Once nearly wiped out, it is now recovering and spreading across much of the country. Polecats are shy, mostly nocturnal, and are often found in woodland, farmland, and along hedgerows. They are known for their dark fur and pale “bandit mask” face markings.
Though sometimes confused with mink, polecats and polecat–ferret hybrids have distinct facial features and a creamy underfur that help distinguish them from mink.
Otters are native to the UK and are often found near rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. They are excellent swimmers with medium brown fur, which can look grey when dry, and a large pale-coloured “bib” down the chest and belly. They have a long tail that’s thick at the base and tapers to a point, short legs, webbed feet, a broad nose, and small ears.
Otters can be mistaken for mink, especially young otters, since both are long and slender with short legs and long tails, and both share the same habitat. However, a fully grown otter is much larger than a mink, roughly twice the length and around ten times heavier.
The stoat is a small, agile predator found throughout the UK, known for its sleek body, quick movements, and characteristic black-tipped tail. Often confused with the weasel, the stoat is slightly larger and has a distinctive bounding gait. They are highly adaptable and can be found in a range of habitats, including woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows, and even coastal areas. Though small, they are fierce hunters, capable of taking down prey much larger than themselves.
Stoats can also be mistaken for mink, but they are smaller, and the black tip on their tail is a clear giveaway.
The weasel is the UK’s smallest carnivore and a master of stealth and agility. With its slim, elongated body and short legs, it’s perfectly adapted for hunting in dense vegetation, tunnels, and narrow spaces. Weasels are widespread across the UK and can be found in woodlands, farmland, hedgerows, and even gardens.
Despite their tiny size, they are bold and efficient predators. Weasels are often confused with stoats, but they lack the black-tipped tail that distinguishes stoats, and are generally smaller overall.
The pine marten is a native UK mammal, now mainly found in Scotland, parts of Wales, northern and central England. Once nearly wiped out due to persecution, it’s now slowly recovering thanks to legal protection. Pine martens prefer woodland habitats and are agile climbers, often moving through trees in search of food.
They have rich brown fur with a creamy-yellow throat patch, a bushy tail, a pointed face, and rounded ears. Mostly nocturnal, they are rarely seen but play an important role in controlling rodent numbers.