November, 2025

Dear Friends,

We get some interesting animals around here.   From tiny baby mammals to large birds of prey, we treat them all, thanks to your support.  But, let’s talk about minks.  You either love them or completely misunderstand them!  Really, they are one of the most fascinating creatures wandering our region.  Over the years we have had the occasional mink convalesce at the Aark for a few weeks, release itself and move on.  But 2025 was the summer of Minky and Bubba.

First came Minky.  She was only 46 grams, eyes closed, barely furred, crawling along a road after a storm.  Kind rescuers happened upon this little darling quite by accident, scooped her up carefully and brought her to the Aark.  At only 7 days old, this is the youngest mink we have ever cared for.  She received around-the-clock care for weeks.  Even before her eyes opened, she was eating tiny bits of prey. She spent her waking hours entertaining herself with ferocious playacting upon her toys.  By the time her eyes opened, she was already a proud hunter but still a sweet girl.  She especially loved Amanda, our Clinic Director, who raised her with such love while letting her be a wild child and all that entails.

Then came Bubba, a 270 gram boy who was found curled up against his dead mother on the side of the road.  Scared and stressed, he checked out healthy and was introduced to little Minky.  They immediately became fast friends.  If you think one juvenile mink can wreak havoc, imagine what two can do. Mischief comes to mind! They thrived throughout the summer.  First having the run of a large indoor cage, then a large indoor room with a splash pool.  At feeding time, they would run right to the cage and jump in for the night.  Next came a large outdoor enclosure where they had a large pool to practice swimming.  No lessons needed, they jumped right in and had a ball. Never short of energy, they continued to thrive and grow.  It’s almost time now to let them go.  Back to the wild where they belong.  It is such a bittersweet moment for us at the Aark.  All that hard work but some fun along the way too!

As Minky and Bubba’s last days wind down here at the Aark, please consider a gift to help us help more animals like them.  Today is the day that gift will matter most!  Your support keeps the Aark afloat and saves thousands of lives. Click the donate button below to make your donation today and see our little minks in action!

Sincerely,

Leah A. Stallings

Executive Director