New Record of Everglades Mink in Everglades National Park from the Stomach of an American Alligator

Authors

Adam Rosenblatt, Florida International UniversityFollow
James C. Nifong, University of FloridaFollow
Michael R. Heithaus, Department of Biological Sciences and Marine Sciences Program, Florida International UniversityFollow
Mark W. Parry, Everglades National Park
Frank J. Mazzotti, University of FloridaFollow

Abstract

Species management and conservation strategies require accurate information about species distributions and behaviors. Neovison vison evergladensis (Everglades Mink) is listed in Florida as threatened, yet its current population status and distribution are unknown. We report the first incontrovertible evidence of the occurrence of Everglades Mink in Everglades National Park (ENP) in 15 years. Specifically, we found Everglades Mink hair in the stomach contents of a 254-cm (total length) adult male Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator) captured in 2011 in the southwestern corner of ENP. Our finding confirms that Everglades Mink still inhabit the park, but we present a hypothesis suggesting that very few may be left there; potential causes of the decline include alterations to ENP hydrology and a recent increase in the number of large predators in ENP.

Comments

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DEB-1237517, #DBI-0620409, and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Rosenblatt, A.E., J. Nifong, M.R. Heithaus, M.W. Parry, F.J. Mazzotti. 2014. New record of Everglades mink in Everglades National Park from the stomach of an American alligator. Southeastern Naturalist 13(3): N22-N25 http://dx.doi.org/10.1656/058.013.0303