The influence of temperature on the activity and water use of farmed mink (Mustela vison)

Submerging in water is used by many species as a behavioral mechanism to reduce body temperature, and farmed mink have been shown to increase their swimming activity during summer months. Therefore we investigated whether a maintained, seasonally independent, high ambient temperature would lead to more swimming in farmed mink. Twelve mink were housed in a temperature controlled room and subjected to two periods of four different temperatures (8, 16, 24 and 32degreesC) with each temperature lasting 4 days. Although some types of activities changed with changes in temperature, the total level of activity was not affected. At high temperatures, the mink did not show any increase in either swimming or stereotyped behavior. It is concluded that within the limits of the experiment, mink will not use submerging in water as a thermoregulatory mechanism.