Space use information for native minks (Neovison vison) along river systems is insufficient due to either low sample size or exclusion of tributaries that minks readily use. We compared linear home ranges for 23 minks and compared daily movement distances between the Hudson River and its tributaries for 33 minks. Mean home range proportion for 12 minks that used both the Hudson River ( = 2.7 km) and its tributaries ( = 3.0 km) was not significant. However, daily movement distances were significantly greater along tributaries ( = 732 m) than along the Hudson River ( = 532 m), which may indicate differences in prey density between each of the waterbody types. The mean home range for 11 minks that strictly used tributaries was 4.7 km and the mean overall home range (waterbody types combined) for all 23 minks was 5.2 km. There was a significant difference in home range size between males (5.8 km) and females (4.1 km). This study contributes to the relatively few available ecological studies of native minks in North America and provides managers with linear space use information for minks along a large river system.
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1 October 2015
Home Ranges and Movement Characteristics of Minks in East-central New York
Damon M. Haan,
Richard S. Halbrook
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