American Mink (Neogale vison) is in the Mustelids family (Mustelidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 11,709 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph American Mink: observations by month (U.S.)
About American Mink
The American mink (Neogale vison) is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to North America, though human introduction has expanded its range to many parts of Europe, Asia, and South America. Because of range expansion, the American mink is classed as a least-concern species by the IUCN. The American mink was formerly thought to be the only extant member of the genus Neovison following the extinction of the sea mink (N. macrodon), but recent studies, followed by...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
American Mink by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 982 | July | Mar–Dec |
| Ohio | 803 | April | Jan–Oct |
| California | 762 | April | Jul–Apr |
| Minnesota | 698 | July | Jan–Nov |
| Pennsylvania | 629 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Michigan | 620 | July | Mar–Sep |
| Illinois | 507 | April | Feb–Nov |
| Wisconsin | 497 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Vermont | 484 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Oregon | 469 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Washington | 449 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Colorado | 383 | August | Mar–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 351 | March | Feb–Sep |
| Virginia | 309 | July | Jun–May |
| Maine | 299 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Louisiana | 283 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New Jersey | 239 | March | Jan–Jul |
| Alaska | 227 | May | Apr–Sep |
| North Carolina | 222 | February | Feb–Mar |
| Indiana | 194 | March | Mar–Aug |
| Idaho | 193 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Maryland | 193 | March | Jan–Mar |
| Utah | 152 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Iowa | 140 | March | Mar–Sep |
| Missouri | 138 | June | Feb–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 136 | August | May–Sep |
| Tennessee | 129 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Connecticut | 124 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 120 | March | Dec–Mar |
| Montana | 116 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Kentucky | 103 | June | Feb–Dec |
| Nebraska | 100 | March | Mar–Dec |
| Texas | 72 | June | May–Oct |
| West Virginia | 72 | April | Apr–Oct |
| Wyoming | 68 | July | Feb–Oct |
| Alabama | 63 | March | Jan–Mar |
| South Dakota | 63 | April | Mar–May |
| Arkansas | 61 | July | Apr–Aug |
| Georgia | 57 | July | May–Jul |
| Kansas | 46 | March | Mar–May |
| Oklahoma | 41 | June | Jun–Apr |
| North Dakota | 40 | April | Mar–Oct |
| South Carolina | 26 | December | Dec–Dec |
| Delaware | 22 | January | Jan–Mar |
| Nevada | 14 | January | Dec–Jan |
| Mississippi | 8 | January | Dec–Feb |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related mammals (Mustelids)
North American River Otter
American Badger
Long-tailed Weasel
Sea Otter
Fisher
American Ermine
Pacific Marten
Photography tips
- Keep a legal and safe distance: 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other large animals in national parks.
- Dawn and dusk are peak activity times for most mammals.
- Use your car as a blind on wildlife drives.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph American Mink?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from June to May.
Where is American Mink most often seen?
The most observations come from New York, Ohio, California.