American Mink near a creek bank, Wasatch Mountains, Summit County, UtahAmerican Mink near a creek bank – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/160, ISO 1250, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

The first case of a wild animal having the coronavirus has occurred right here in Utah when an wild American Mink tested positive for Covid-19. According to news reports the mink was near a mink farm here in northern Utah. Earlier in the year mink farms in Utah had thousands of their mink test positive for the coronavirus.

First case of coronavirus detected in wild animal – BBC.com

Utah mink is the first animal in the wild found with the coronavirus – National Geographic

A wild mink in Utah is the first wild animal anywhere to test positive for COVID-19, researchers say – Salt Lake Tribune

The mink in the image above was photographed in September in Summit County high in the Wasatch Mountains.

Mink in farms around the globe have tested positive for the coronavirus and thousands upon thousands of mink have been killed because of it.

Long-tailed Weasel standing next to water at Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahLong-tailed Weasel standing next to water at Farmington Bay WMA – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/3200, ISO 1000, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

From the Salt Lake Tribune article:

The Center for Biological Diversity similarly raised concerns.

“Scientists have worried that the coronavirus would be passed from escaped factory farmed mink to wild mink,” said Lori Ann Burd, director of the center’s environmental health program. “Given the risk that this nightmare scenario is unfolding in Utah, we urge officials in every state with mink farms to take aggressive measures to ensure that this horrible disease does not decimate wildlife populations.”

I’m concerned for our wild American Mink and have begun to wonder of the coronavirus could be passed to the other native mustelids here in Utah.

Adult Long-tailed Weasel in its snow white winter coat, Farmington Bay WMA, Davis County, UtahAdult Long-tailed Weasel in its snow white winter coat – Nikon D810, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 640, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light

Native mustelids in Utah include mink, badgers, skunks, martens, weasels and river otters. I have seen mink and long-tailed weasels in the same habits when I have been out photographing birds and wildlife. I’ve also seen badgers and weasels in the same habitat.

If mink are susceptible to the coronavirus I have to wonder if our other native mustelids are as well.

American Badger next to its burrow, Antelope Island State Park, Davis County, UtahAmerican Badger next to its burrow – Nikon D300, f11, 1/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 200mm, natural light

The strain of coronavirus that was found in Utah’s mink farms has the exact sequencing as the wild mink that tested positive.

I hope that I am just worrying about our native weasels, badgers, skunks, mink, and otter for nothing but this is 2020 and I am not counting anything out.

Mia

Click here to see more of my American Mink photos plus facts and information about this species.

Other animals including captive Lions, Tigers, and Snow Leopards have tested positive for the coronavirus as well as some dogs and cats.