The effects of sex and age of wild American mink Mustela vison Schrebe
r, 1777 were investigated on four characteristics (thickness, cross-se
ctional area, shear force, and shear stress) of humeri and femurs. Thi
cknesses and cross-sectional areas were higher (p < 0.001) in males fo
r both bones. Shear forces for both bones were higher (p < 0.01) in ma
les. Age significantly (p < 0.07) affected shear stress of humeri. Inc
rease in bone strength in males appears related to increase in bone th
ickness and cross-sectional area only and not to increases in shear st
ress. Bone geometry appears to respond to changes in body size while m
aintaining a constant or minimum value of shear-stress.