Some Mink in Don River north of Riverdale Park.

[dodo]

Around 7PM I stopped in the middle of a bridge north of Riverdale Park where the bicycle trail crosses over the Don because there was a mink on it. After the mink ran off the bridge I looked into the water and saw 4 mink swim across the river (one after the other). There was a muskrat swimming near the bridge too.

[Ally]

Around 7PM I stopped in the middle of a bridge north of Riverdale Park where the bicycle trail crosses over the Don because there was a mink on it. After the mink ran off the bridge I looked into the water and saw 4 mink swim across the river (one after the other). There was a muskrat swimming near the bridge too.

Wow, that's exciting!! There are otters there too, I saw pics on a birder's screen early in June. He and the other birder saw it that mornimg. At Riverwood.

[Axeman]

Soooo....the question arises....only b/c my understanding of mink is that they're solitary....and I have never seen otter so wonder if I could tell them apart in the field in a short unexpected encounter....could they have been otters?

[Dr. John]

Could have been a mother with kits.  Kits are born in the spring and by now could be closer to adult size.  They stay with the mother until the fall.  Otters are much bigger and heftier.  I've seen one on that stretch of the Don.  My friend has footage of one at the Brickworks.

[dodo]

I once saw a group of 5 mink pass in front of me on a trail when I was walking into the Brickworks  (I posted the sighting on this forum). I had a good look at the mink on the bridge because it ran toward me and froze when it was about 10 feet away. The mink that swam across the river were directly below me on the bridge so I think its unlikely that I misidentified them.