Marsh Wren
This medium-sized, semi-aquatic carnivore has a long, thin body; short, sturdy legs; short, pointed nose; short, rounded ears, and a dorsoventrally flattened head. Thickly furred tail. Usually rich dark brown in color with a white chin patch. Sometimes white spots on belly. Fur is soft and lustrous with long, glossy guard hairs. Dense pelage is its only obvious aquatic adaptation. Total length: 19 to 28 inches. Weight: 1.5 to two pounds. A medium-sized mammal with an elongate body, a long tail, small rounded ears, and relatively short legs; pelage is soft, luxurious, and generally rich brown to almost black dorsally. The baby minks are called ‘cub or kit’; the female minks are called ‘sow’ and the male minks as ‘boar’.
Usually found along streams and lakes. Commonly occurs in marshes and beaver ponds. Permanence of water and dependable source of food are most important habitat components. Often uses den sites of other animals and is commonly found in association with Muskrats. Semi-aquatic forager. Can kill prey larger than itself. Chiefly nocturnal, territorial, and secretive. Dens underneath piles of brush or driftwood, under rocks, in hollow logs, and in houses or dens abandoned by Beavers or Muskrats. Very aggressive mating behavior. Wetland habitats - riverine, palustrine, lacustrine.
