Vison, the Mink — Jean Craighead George

Vison the mink, the bully of his litter, strikes out on his own after the sudden death of his mother

Vison the mink has fought for everything -- food, shelter, survival -- almost from birth. The largest of his litter, he bullied his smaller sisters and was the first to venture out of the den. Returning home after hunting one day, Vison and his mother are cornered by Urocyon the gray fox. With no way out, Vison's mother attacks the fox with full force, allowing Vison to escape.

Back in the den, the mink kits wait for their mother, but she does not return. Bored with his weak sisters, Vison abandons them and leaves the den for good. But his mother still had much left to teach her kits about life in the wilderness. Has Vison learned enough to survive?