Food habits of prairie mink during the waterfowl breeding season.

Male Mustela vison were studied in SW Manitoba from April through July. Mammals were the major prey during April (99% of diet) and, to a lesser extent, May through July (44-21%). Muskrats Ondatra zibethicus, ground squirrels and voles were the most important mammalian prey. Avian prey comprised 55-75% of the diet during May-July. Waterfowl (adults, ducklings, eggs) accounted for 23% of the total diet. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and blue-winged teal A. discors were the most abundant ducks. Other important avian prey included coots Fulica americana, grebes (Podiceps auritus, Podilymbus podiceps) and marsh-nesting blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus). Mink predation had little impact on populations of praire waterfowl.-from Authors