HistoryGal
Source of the photo above: https://www.especes-menacees.fr/actualites/nouvel-espoir-pour-vison-europe/
Today for the letter V, I want to present the cute little « vison » or mink. This little animal can be found both in Europe and North America (where it is slightly bigger than the European mink). In the French North America, the « vison » is often referred to as a « belette » although that latest term is often used for several types of small animals.
The mink is a semi-aquatic carnivorous mammal of the Mustelidae family which also includes such species as weasels ( « belettes » ), otters ( « loutres » ) and ferrets ( « furets » ). The « vison » lives mostly near water and usually ventures only a few hundred yards from it if ever it is hungry for rabbit which is his favorite delicacy. So you can see them along seashores or rivers or streams.
Being semi-aquatic animals « visons », despite not having palmed feet, eats anything from fish to small crustaceans including crab to small mammals along with birds and eggs. The predators of the « vison » include large owls, bobcats, coyotes, foxes and wolves and definitely man who hunts and traps him or her to this day for its fur mostly.
A male mink can weigh up to a kg (2.2 lbs) and measure 62 cm (2 feet) long while a female is slightly smaller. But both male and female’s tail can measure 12 to 22 cm (5 to 9 inches) long. « Visons » only breed once a year and can give birth to from 6 to 10 kits per litter.
A wild mink’s fur is usually glossy brown and very silky. That is why « visons » are being hunted to this day and used to be locked up in small cages in farming type facilities. Their fur alone is the demise of the minks. It was and still is highly praised for its shine and silkiness. Farm bred mink’s fur can vary from white to black. There is a ban on mink fur farms in some countries but « visons » have seen better days before man discovered their luxurious furs.
The french word « vison » comes probably from the latin word viso-nis or « vission » meaning « stink » for the foul smell of the « vison’s » urine that leaves it spread to mark his or her territory. The pronunciation of the word « vison » is very simple. It sounds just like « vision » but without the middle i and you do not pronounce the letter n at the end of the word.
See you soon for the letter W.
I don’t remember ever seeing this animal before. It looks cute. Her gaze seems very curious.
I agree the mink or vison has quite the most soulful eyes probably because it is by now inbred into them to fear humans as these to this day hunt them or farm them for their beautiful silky fur. Thank you for reading, writing such a beautiful comment and up voting.
Yes I agree he or she has the cutest little face. But it is way too bad that they are basically still being farmed in some areas of the world for their fur. Nice to see you again BTW. Thanks for reading and commenting and up voting.
Such cute animals! The fur looks better on them.
Oh yes the fur sits much better on them especially since they have such a cute little face. Thanks for your visit and comment and up vote.
at the rate you are going I will learn 26 new words 🙂 I love your take on this and thank you for sharing the Mink!
Sadly and too often they are worn as coats.
Alors nous allons communiquer en francais Doc? I am very happy to know you still love my alphabetical animal series. Actually I loved researching and writing it. Thanks for visiting, your compliment/comment and up vote.
Je ne parle pas bien
But I have a device that speaks fluent french!
🙂
Eh bien je crois que nous allons bien nous entendre. I just hope your device translates also…
mon espagnol est meilleur que mon français, et oui il fait les deux! Même le chinois en mode conversationnel!
and Merci!
They have the cutest little face don’t you think? It is too bad that they are so prized for their fur… As for knowledge, thank the web for me as I just learned about these little critters on the fly. It does not matter to me as love to research whether on the web or books etc. I am happy you enjoyed my post. Thank you for your comment and up vote.
They are adorable animals. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
See my reply above under history gal again Carol.