| Mink
(Mustela vison)
Interview With Debbie
Scott and Patricia Chambers
Positives of mink as pets?
PC: They are clean and have lots of personality.
Negatives of mink as pets?
PC: They bite really, really hard and don't let go. Often they
bite to the bone. When hand raised however, they bond to the person who
raised them.
Stories about your mink pet?
PC: Too many to list, but one of my favorites is when I took my
mink Ruckus to the office and he went for a swim in the womens toilet.
Mink are semi-aquatic and a toilet is just a small swimming hole! My boss
ran for the camera! When a mink bonds to a person, they can be sweet,
often tempermental but playful as a kitten.
Do they have scent glands or an offensive smell?
DS: Somewhat but not as strong a skunk, similar to a ferret.
PC: Yes they have anal glands but they don't often "express" themselves.
Other than that they have no odor if you feed them Iams kitten food or
Mazuri ferret chow, something not high in fish and you must have them
neutered or spayed.
What is their average lifespan?
DS: 7 years. Females seem to live longer.
PC: Unknown, but some of mine are about 6 years now and doing fine.
Do they enjoy interaction?
DS: Yes they do, I get down on the floor an play with mine. Some
will play with ferrets and so are too rough on ferrets.
PC: Human interaction yes, mink can fight to the death in extreme
cases and have a very high hunting instinct so you must always be careful
with them and never let down your guard.
What is their general personality, disposition, and
attitude?
DS: No 2 are alike for sure. They have a bubbling personality when
it comes to play time. Disposition: not all the same, some are funny about
you putting your hands near their cage. Best not to do that. I have some
that will allow you to open their cage and love on them. Pick them up
and pet them (this has only happened in the past 2 years, now they are
7 of age) and some that don't want to be touched. I have one that just
worships the gound my husband walks on but hates everyone else. He just
kisses my husband and talks to him (like a clucking sound) and he has
bit me so very hard I wanted to cry.
PC: Aggressive, playful, they swim like otters in water, but don't
expect a mink to "cuddle", although I force mine to tolerate hugs and
kisses!
Are they sweet and petable, or mischievious and playful?
DS: They are sure playful, and mischievious and the petable story
you will catch above.
PC: All of the above and more.
How destructive are they for an average household?
DS: No distructive at all which is a plus!!
PC: Not very, they are cleaner than ferrets and smell better too.
Do they climb or tear up furniture?
DS: No tearing up furniture. When mine have climb it was to go
on my bed and go to sleep after they got tired of playing...playtime was
over an hour.
PC: Given the chance, probably. Supervision required!!!
Are there any problems associated with their claws?
DS: No, you must keep them trimmed though and easy done with human
clippers. Best to trim them when they are still asleep or when they are
standing in their cage against the wire licking off a treat off the wire
of the cage and then give them a quick trim, only trim when they are still.
PC: Do not delaw a mink, it is very easy to trim their nails!
How messy are their droppings?
DS: About like a ferret. Not bad at all.
PC: They usually prefer to go in the litterbox as long as it is
kept clean. I skipped cleaning his box because I was sick, and he took
a blanket and covered his poop and then pooped onf top of the blanket.
As I've said before they are very clean given the chance to be.
Can they be litter box trained?
DS: Yes, same as a ferret
PC: They usually take to it like a cat.
Can they be trained?
DS: Yes, we have found the more time you spend with this wonderful
creature the better. Harness walking is great with them
PC: Maybe, when they get a little older and calm down.
How are they with other pets, larger and smaller?
DS: We have cats and they seem to respect the cats. Never has a
mink hurt one of my cats. Mink thatwe have had and still have do not seem
to be out to kill something. But I would not trust a mink around a bird.
Same with a ferret.
PC: Never tried, I'm not that brave.
What size cage do they need?
DS: Same as a ferret. About 18 inches tall,3 feet long,2 feet wide.
You can start them out in this size cage and go to a 2 story or 3 story
later on. Make sure the doors have secure latches because they have been
know to excape. Their favorite toys are the long clear tubes to run through.
They love a big crock of water to play in too.
PC: The largest you can afford to buy, even still, they need play
time outside of their cage and lots of handling to keep them nice. If
the play area is "ferret safe" then it is probably mink safe too.
What is the best diet for them?
DS: High protein cat food mixed with ferret food. Not fish base,
gives off bad smell. (example of mix of food)...Iams mixed with Superior
Choice ferret food from the ferretstore.com
PC: Mazuri ferret chow, Iams kitten food, Marshalls ferret food-but
they might smell a little on Marshalls because it is so high in fish.
What vaccinations/vet care do they require?
DS: Same as a ferret distemper shot once a year...galaxy-D or Fervac-D.
If you want to rabie vacc. a mink just use the imrab-3 same as a ferret.
PC: Galaxy D distemper and IMRAB 3 for rabies.
At what age would it be best to get one?
DS: 5 to 8 weeks of age.
PC: As young as possible, before their eyes open, maybe 10 days
old.
Other considerations?
DS: We have a old saying in Ohio. "if you can't handle being bit
you have no business with a mink." I'm not saying all mink will bite you
but........one never knows what to expect out of one of these little fellows,
their teeth can really hurt too!!! Not as bad as a squirrel bite or racoon
bite but a little harder then a hard ferret bite!
PC: I do not generally recommend mink as pets. Mink are very difficult
animals to have, they bite really, really hard. My mink do not bite me
that hard but I've really put in a lot of time raising them and loving
them. Even my hand raised mink have bitten others, luckily they have been
friends of mine and have not insisted on the death of my animals to be
tested for rabies. (Which they do not have but that is the way people
think) I take very strong precautions with them when I'm in public, and
when they show signs of stress, such as panting, or figeting, I put them
out of sight of the public. Never does anyone ever hold my mink and when
I present them I only present the back of the animal and hold the head
away. Even my vet knows the "rules", she tells me what she wants to see
and I adjust the way I hold my mink.
What kind of person should own these animals?
DS: A person who devotes much of their life to animals. A person
who is settled down in life. A person with no small children under the
age of 7. A person that has grown up around animals. (growing up around
unusal animals is a plus) |
