Cottage development in central Ontario affected mink habitat and food selection by altering vegetation structure and distribution, species composition of vegetation, and prey availability. Lot-clearing activities by cottagers reduced tree and shrub densities, foliage volumes, deadfalls and shade-loving ground species while increasing the number of alien or domesticated plant species. The littoral zone was simplified by the removal of submerged snags, large boulders or stones, submergent, emergent, and floating vegetation in favour of sand beaches and docks. Mink activity decreased with increasing levels of development, as measured by a development index, and increased with increasing coniferous composition. Deciduous shorelines were not used much by mink regardless of the level of development. The occurrence of fish, amphibians and crustaceans in the diet was affected by the intensity of development while the occurrence of mammals, crustaceans and amphibians in the diet was affected by the coniferous composition of the habitat. It is important to understand these changes in order to manage the development to minimize negative impacts on wildlife.
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