Mink on Ice at Knockferry

Mink around Lough Corrib is primarily American mink, an invasive species in Ireland (known in Irish as Minc Mheirriceánach). They thrive along the lake’s shores, rivers, and wetlands, where they are skilled hunters and strong swimmers. While well adapted to the Corrib’s rich aquatic environment, mink pose a serious threat to native wildlife—particularly ground-nesting birds and fish—so conservation efforts in the area focus on monitoring and controlling their numbers to protect the lake’s fragile ecosystem.