The animal that hasn't been seen in Ohio for nearly 200 years has returned. The mink belongs to the weasel family, and was recently spotted in Ashtabula County.

Retired veterinarian and owner of Snowy Oak Tree Farm found the animal on his driveway near Highway 167 in Ashtabula County. Paul Mehling said he was stunned to see the mink, which was hit by a car, and reported the animal to the Ohio Department of Wildlife.

"I said: Wow, it’s a mink right on my driveway," - said Mehling.

"Unfortunately, she was hit on the road before she could give birth. The fact that she was pregnant and in the wild is a positive sign for the potential future of this species in Ohio," - said Katie Dennison, a biologist with the Ohio Department of Wildlife.
Since Mehling's discovery in 2023, other minks have been recorded through trail cameras set up by the same department's staff.

"They have very long tails, which can be from two to four feet long, but about half of that length is the tail. As for weight, they are approximately the size of a domestic cat, so they are not as large as it sounds when I say from two to four feet long," - says Dennison.

The animal is a predator that hunts small mammals such as mice and squirrels. It can pose a threat to small dogs, cats, chickens, and even some types of livestock.

"There is also some potential for conflict with livestock. Minks generally try to stay away from places where people are, so we do not expect this to be a major problem, but just making sure your livestock is secured at night can be a good way to prevent any conflicts with wildlife," - says Katie.

Since 2013, the Ohio Department of Wildlife has recorded only 40 verified sightings, and it is known that minks keep away from humans.
"I was a little surprised because they are very reclusive animals. There aren’t that many of them," - says Mehling.

Biologists believe that the return of the animals is a good sign for Ohio’s forests.

"It’s nice to see everything coming back. Bald eagles, wild turkeys, many different animals have returned, and the mink is one of them," - said Mehling.

The Ohio Department of Wildlife believes that the mink population will continue to grow again.