What distinguished the American mink (*Neovison vison*) from native predators regarding water vole defense mechanisms?

The slim female mink is perfectly adapted to follow the vole directly into its underground chambers

The catastrophic impact of the non-native American mink stems directly from its physical morphology relative to the water vole's established defensive architecture. Water voles evolved successful escape tactics against native predators such as foxes, owls, and herons, primarily relying on rapid diving or retreating into burrows which native hunters cannot easily enter. However, the slim physical profile of the female mink allows it to navigate and pursue the vole directly into these underground chambers. This capability bypasses the vole's primary line of defense, often leading to the complete extermination of local colonies within a single breeding season due to the efficiency of this predatory behavior.