Watch a Tiny Mink Chase Down and Capture a Rabbit Through Snow

Everyone loves a good snow day… right? The typical animal may frolic in the snow, but this mink would rather hunt in it!

In the video, we can see a gorgeously serene landscape covered with a thick layer of snow. In the distance, a small black creature latches onto a plump rabbit, which creates a stir in the snow. The rabbit begins to run away, however, the beast is tightly biting on to its tail; this small black creature is a mink! 

After a few seconds of showing the mink latched onto the rabbit, the video cuts to depict the rabbit slowing its movement, while repeated cries can be heard from the duo. Eventually, the rabbit stops moving, and the mink has captured its well-deserved meal! 

Watch the Mink Hunting Here!

What do Minks Eat? 

Minks are incredibly cryptic animals, which few people know about. Due to this, the video below may have you wondering: “What do minks eat?” 

Don’t be fooled by their adorable appearance, minks are voracious predators. They are considered to be aquatic carnivores, meaning they only rely on meat for food. Specifically, minks tend to inhabit woodland or wetland areas, which can offer both terrestrial and aquatic food sources. 

In terms of their hunting, minks are incredibly diverse and adaptable. They don’t rely on one specific food source and can eat almost any form of meat they can get their hands on. 

Some of the most common sources of mink food include fish, small aquatic creatures, small rodents, and other small mammals such as the rabbit shown in the video. 

Interestingly enough, minks have extremely high metabolic rates, which means that they need to eat a lot of food to maintain their energy. Thus, most sources site that minks can eat around 20% of their body weight in a sitting; talk about a big eater! 

Is Hunting in the Winter Normal? 

Aside from certain animals that hibernate (such as bears), most animals are still active during the winter. This is especially true for smaller animals such as rabbits and minks, which do not hibernate. Animals such as these still need to find food. 

Additionally, the harsh winter weather and lack of food sources usually mean that animals may be hunting or foraging more frequently. This likely explains why the rabbit was out in the open. 

Likewise, animals such as minks tend to spend more time hunting in the winter. This is because there is less food, and they usually are expending more calories in the winter weather. 

For most animals, hunting in the winter is a normal behavior. Some other popular examples of animals that hunt and forage in the winter include: 

• Coyotes
• Deer
• Raccoons
• Crows
• Bobcats
• Hares
• Elk
• Squirrels  

Final Thoughts 

In the end, the video that can be found below is a shining example of natural animal behavior. Both the mink and the rabbit characteristically tend to hunt and forage more during the winter months, which is likely why their paths crossed. 

The video is also a great look into mink hunting behavior, which is extremely fast, aggressive, and diverse. In addition to rabbit meat, minks are also on the market for lots of other food, even from aquatic sources! 

The photo featured at the top of this post is © shauttra/Shutterstock.com