American 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 – 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 – 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 – 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.
I am a breeder of Persian & Exotic Shorthair cats. I thought you might like to hear that there are treatments for Corona Virus also known as Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) in cats. From what I understand it is extremely expensive. Will have to hope that through the cat treatment there will be treatment for other four legged creatures.
Thanks for this important post and the excellent images. Keep up the good work Mia!
Wonderful pics of some beautiful critters. I hope to God they can dodge the pandemic bullet. Scary stuff. Thanks Mia.
I have already been there, had these thoughts when Utah’s mink farms were first contaminated by sick workers. Wild mink and escaped mink are common around mink farms, how easily is covid-19 contagious to animals near mink farms? Coronavirus is common in bat populations too, will this new one also infect our bats?
Beautiful Photos!
That is truly dreadful news. I so hope that your fears are groundless – and assume that they are not.
Yet another reason for shutting down fur farms. Period and forever. I hope that this is an isolated case, but I’m so worried that it isn’t.
Yes, I heard about the mink farms in Alberta and BC that have tested positive for the coronavirus. Not good news. As I read further , coronavirus has infected livestock for years, but there are different strains I guess the question is whether or not it can be passed to humans, and vice-versa.
Mink farms here in Canada have taken aggressive action as well in putting down their mink against the virus. That is devastating news that a mink in the wild has contracted the virus. OMGosh, the devastation it would cause is unthinkable if it manages to spread.