American Mink (Neovison vison) in Yakutia: Morphology, Distribution, Abundance

Abstract

The article presents data on the morphology, range, and number of the American mink in Yakutia, gives materials on its morpho- and craniometry. Data on the dynamics of the range and number of the American mink in Yakutia from the moment of its introduction in the early 1960s to the present time are shown. The range of the mink has expanded in the northeast direction from Southern Yakutia to Central Yakutia for half a century, and new mink settlement sites on the eastern side of Yakutia from Magadan Region have been noted. After naturalization of the American mink for 25 years, there was a gradual increase in its number from 686 individuals to 4000–5000 individuals. Over the next 35 years, the number of the species stabilized and has remained at this level with some fluctuations over the years, excluding 2005–2006, when there was a sharp increase in the number of mink.