We report the detection of main-sequence and blue horizontal-branch stars o
f the Ursa Minor dwarf spheroidal galaxy beyond its tidal radius, indicatin
g the existence of a possible tidal extension in this satellite of the Milk
y Way. This tidal extension could spread out well beyond the area covered i
n our survey (R > 80'), as suggested by the presence of a "break" to a shal
lower slope observed in its density profile. The V-band surface brightness
for this possible tidal extension ranges from 29.8 to 31.5 mag arcsec(-2).
The area covered in our survey (similar to1.65 deg(2)) is not enough to dis
criminate if this extratidal population is part of a tidal tail or an exten
ded halo around the galaxy. The existence of this tidal extension in Ursa M
inor indicates that this satellite is currently undergoing a tidal disrupti
on process by the Milky Way. We discuss the possibility of a tidal origin f
or the high mass-to-light ratio observed in this galaxy on the basis of our
result and recent theoretical simulations of the tidal disruption of dwarf
satellites in the Galactic halo.