Mustela Lutreola

The European mink (Mustela lutreola), also known as the Russian mink, is a semi-aquatic species of Mustelid native to Europe. It is listed by the IUCN as Endangered due to an ongoing reduction in numbers, having been calculated as being more than 50% over the past three generations. Still rather common in the beginning on 1980 in Soomaa National Park area, it has today entirely disappeared from the mainland and last places animal exists in Estonia (and Europe), is the island of Hiiumaa on the west coast of Estonia. The reason of extinction is American mink, that was introduced to Estonia and Europe by accident, as animals escaped from different mink farms (commercial fur industry), they settled well in our habitats and started pushing out the aborigen species. Though there exists still the suitable habitat for European mink, it has been taken over by its "American brother" and its rather unlikely, that we would see this small curious animal on the European mainland ever again.