90 



YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES 



«5S» 



'Mtmnull of I tike Tabor" by Robert I . Orr. Courtesy of publisher, California Academy of Scieneei. 



MINK 



The Pacific mink is considered a rare 

 furbearer in Yosemice. It is sometimes 

 found, in suitable territory, at the lower 

 elevations. It is a very dark brown, wea- 

 sel-like animal, but larger than our wea- 

 sels and lacking the light uhderparts 

 displayed by the latter in summer. In 

 winter, our weasels are white. The mar- 

 ten, often mistaken for a mink, has a 

 fox-like face, prominent ears, and an 

 orangy or yellowish throat. 



Minks are generally found in or near 

 water. They are good swimmers, so it is 

 not surprising that they feed on fish and 

 frogs. Mice, rabbits and birds are also 

 taken. 



133 



From ejit by M. V. Huol 



Tracks of mink, superimposed. Six-inch pencil. 



The Sierra pine marten ranges from 

 the red fir belt up to timberline. The 

 light brown body is about the size of 

 that of a half-grown cat. The fox-like 

 face and the throat patch will separate 

 it from others of the weasel family. 



Martens are active day or night, sum- 

 mer and winter. Though forest animals, 

 they are found in Yosemite around high 

 country rockslides and rocky meadows 

 in summer. They eat small rodents and 

 such birds as they can catch. 



In winter, when small rodents are un- 

 der deep snow, martens revert to the for- 

 ests. There rhey can travel through the 

 trees with squirrel-like facility. Other 

 tree-dwellers, such as the chickaree, are 

 then caught and eaten. 



Like others of the weasel family, mar- 

 tens have scent glands, though the odor 

 is more musky. Only skunks can throw 

 theirs. I believe that the introduction of 

 such scents around the premises of man 

 causes the mouse population to decline 

 noticeably. 



Nowhere common, the fisher is rare 

 in Yosemite. About 3 to 3 ' \ feet long, 

 it is a blackish brown with a grizzled 

 effect on the back of the head, shoulders. 



