The Mink

Two mink have been turned over to area ferret shelters. Both were originally misidentified as ferrets, and were taken to the Ferrets Unlimited Ferret Shelter in Cleveland when they turned out to be mink instead. For more information on the mink, contact Jean Caputo-Lee.

Kahlua is a mink. We got a call in June 1997 from someone who found a ferret in their garage. They had a dickens of a time catching it, then called us. "Uh, that's no ferret, that's a mink!" A biologist who examined her estimated she was about 7-8 weeks old, and must have gotten separated from her family. At her age she would not have survived if returned to the wild. She is a gorgeous dark brown with a white chin patch. Kahlua is slowly getting used to people. She loves fish and sliced turkey (see picture).

March update: Kahlua is now about a year old. She has become wilder as she has matured, and is now very wary of people. We plan to turn her over to the Great Lakes Science Center who will add her to their breeding colony.

April update: On March 28, Kahlua was turned over to the Great Lakes Science Center for rehabilitation to the wild. She adapted very quickly, learning to kill and eat small rodents, etc. On April 2, Kahlua was released near a wild colony in a rural Cleveland Metro Park. A few days later, she was spotted consorting with a male!

August update: Kahlua has successfully raised her first litter of kits. Born late May, there are 5 girls, all dark brown like Kahlua, and 3 boys, all dark grey.They have all been examined and tagged by wildlife officials.

Smokey is a dark grey mink that someone tried to keep as a pet. Her canines have been filed down, making her unsuitable for return to the wild. She had an infection on her face, which has since cleared up. She had an unfortunate encounter with Kahlua through their adjacent cages, and had to have the last inch or so of her tail amputated.

To our delight, Smokey has become attached to Sidney, a permanent resident at Ferrets Unlimited. Sidney had himself been a bad fear biter. They now share a cage, chase each other and wrestle together. Smokey dooks and wardances just like a ferret! See also likes to go for a swim in a large plastic tub.

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Updated 5 August 1998