Spot the difference

Richard Collins on fellow members of the weasel family, the otter and the mink.

A CALLER this week wanted to know how to distinguish a mink from an otter. Was it possible, she asked, to do so if the animal is in the water, with most of its body hidden from view? It’s a frequently asked question.

These two members of the weasel family have broadly similar lifestyles. Both are elusive and usually seen fleetingly. Mink generally stay hidden but they have an inquisitive streak; curiosity can get the better of them. Some can be quite brazen and, on balance, you are more likely to encounter a mink than an otter. Otters occasionally cavort in daylight but mostly they dislike making public appearances.