Mink are natively found throughout the majority of Canada and the US. There are also invasive populations throughout most of Europe and Russia as a result of escapees from fur trade facilities. In Canada more specifically, they can be found in every Canadian Province and Territory, though they avoid northerly polar regions beyond the tree line. Minks were introduced to Newfoundland Island in the late 1930's, both through the fur farm industry and as intentional introductions. Mink tend to prefer forested or wetland habitats, as well as river and lake systems. Minks are primarily cerpuscular (most active during dawn and dusk hours), though they can occasionally be active during the night as well. Minks will either establish their own dens near a body of water, or will use a den abandoned by other animals such as muskrats

Minks are carnivorous with a very broad diet of animals that they consume. They will frequently consume fish, amphibians, crustaceans, small mammals and birds, along with their eggs. Minks are also capable of hunting down muskrats and rabbits, and will also consume worms, snails and insects. Predation on waterfowl species are most successful during the bird's most vulnerable points in their breeding season, such as incubating, rearing of chicks and molting. Any food that the Mink does not consumed is cached for a later date.

Minks will mate during the late winter months, between February and early April, after which the female Mink is left to birth and raise the kits by herself. While the development time of the embryo is a month, the female Mink can delay the embyo's implantation by an additional month. As a result, the gestation period is usually 1.5 to 2 months in length. By April or May, the female Mink will give birth to a litter of 1 to 10 kits, but usually 4 on average. The kits are born blind with thin fine har, but begin to open their eyes within the first month, and are weaned off the mother not too long after. After weaning, the kits will join their mother on hunts in order to learn how to survive. The kits will stay with their mother until autumn, and become sexually mature once they are about 10 months old. Minks will usually live up to 3 years in the wild, but can live up to 8 in captivity. Minks are not often predated on, but they can be hunted down by Bobcats, Lynx, Coyotes, Wolves, Red Foxes, Alligators and Bird of Prey species such as Owls and Hawks.

Minks have a versitile array of adaptations that allow for them to survive in a vareity of conditions, wether that be in an aquatic environment or on land. Their fur is dense with thick underhairs and oily guard hairs, rendering it waterproof. Unlike Otters however, Minks do not have webbed toes. Instead, Minks are good climbers, being able to scale trees or climb down head first, as well as jump from one tree to another. Minks also have superb sight, smell and hearing, though these senses are hindered while underwater. When it comes to hearing, Minks are able to detect the ultrasonic noise created by small rodents. Like most Mustelids, Minks have a set of anal glands that they can use to mark their territory, which is important given the fact that male Minks are extremely intolerant of other males interloping into their territory. Minks can also discharge the musk when stressed, indicating that the anal glands are also utilized to deter predators and other threats. Some of the chemicals emitted from their anal lands are sulfur based.