From:
regina_z@hotmail.com
Date: 2002-07-11 15:47:50 UTC
Subject: wild mink and ADV (NE US)?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <21625801.1026402470436.JavaMail.root@scandium>
I recently learned that mink are living in a wildlife refuge not far from my house. My first thought was "nifty!" But then my second, perhaps somewhat paranoid though was to wonder if wild mink can carry ADV. These are native New England mink, expanding back into the Boston area from the suburbs, not escaped fur farm mink. The only information I could find online about wild mink and ADV largely concerned escaped fur farm mink in the UK and continential Europe, where apparently those mink are active carriers. So, is it at all likely that your basic wild mink would carry ADV?
These mink aren't likely to ever come near my house since they've got all they need in the refuge, but if there's a possibility that they could be carriers, then I would avoid the trails in the refuge area when out with the ferrets. Which I might do anyway, since I also learned there are coyotes there :)
Regina (unsubbed since April but back in the new list now)