The body of the American Mink is long with a short flat head and the legs are short and more compact than those of the weasel. Body length is 300-430 mm with tail length of 158-230 mm. The coat is thick and gleaming with short hairs. Coloration varies from white to blue. They are skillful swimmers and divers with webbings between the toes.

They typically live along streams, rivers and lakes preferring densely vegetated areas. They build their nests in hollow trees, beneath stumps or roots. They are generally nocturnal and feed on aquatic organism as well as small animals and insects.

American Mink are solitary and generally hostile to one another except when coming together for breeding. Females are polyestrous but have only one litter per year in the spring. Litter size average 5 young.

American Mink are extensively bred on farms for their fur. Selective breeding is used to yield unusual color variations in the pelts.

N. visori have established populations in Canada, USA (Alaska throughout all of USA except SW deserts). Inrtoduced to Belarus, Belgium, China, Czech Rep., Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Ireland, Ialy, Japan (Hokkaido) Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Rusia, Spain, and Sweden.