What Does “A Richness of Minks” Mean?
“Richness” is the rarer, more evocative alternate to “company,” and it almost certainly nods to the mink’s history as one of the most prized fur animals in the world. For centuries, mink pelts were among the most valuable in the fashion industry, and a “richness” of minks would once have represented real monetary wealth to a trapper or fur trader — a name built from economic history rather than observed animal behavior.
Mink fur farming became a major global industry in the 20th century, and escaped or released farmed American minks have since become an invasive species in parts of Europe, outcompeting the native, now-endangered European mink. It’s a curious twist: the very trade that gave minks their “richness” nickname is also responsible for their spread well beyond their natural range.
Example: “The old fur trapper spoke of a richness of minks caught over a single winter, back when pelts fetched a premium price.”
Related: Collective Nouns for Mammals · What Is a Group of Minks Called? · What Animals Form a Richness?