Feeding plasticity and temporal behaviour of the alien American mink in Europe

The American mink Neovison vison is an invasive species in Europe with a number of expanding populations in over 20 countries. In this work, we reviewed feeding habits and temporal behaviour of the American mink introduced to Europe. We summarised the results of 30 studies on diet of this mustelid and of 5 studies on activity rhythms. Trophic niche breadth was high in Europe and increased with increasing sampling period, thus emphasizing that American mink may shape its diet according to the seasonal availability of potential prey. American minks showed a polyphasic or cathemeral locomotor pattern, being active both during the day and the night in Europe and tending to limit encounter probabilities with native, larger mustelids. Acceptance of programs of eradication/numerical control are linked to the awareness of impact by this semiaquatic mammal and to recent sightings of free-ranging individuals. Numerical control of this charismatic, invasive mammal species may thus encounter a strong opposition by the general public, particularly because its presence and its impacts are poorly known. Educational campaigns and consultation with all potential stakeholders should be addressed to design effective decision-making processes.