Following known historical occurrences of endangered European mink (Mustela lutreola), it seems that western population came from Black sea gradually ascending the Danub, passing through the north of the Alpine arc, and then following the Loire river toward western France. The western range of mink extended from Brittany to Aquitaine. Nonetheless, the western population suffered a dramatic decline, restricting in range by half. Analysis of known causes of mortality showed that trapping and loss of habitat were involved in the decline. Paradoxically, and despite a severe bottleneck, the western population of European mink has colonized rice paddy fields and garrigue Mediterranean areas, new habitats never used before, emphasizing the decisive role of peripheral populations for conservation biology. Such an unexpected colonisation pattern chiefly results from the long-distance breeding strategy usually used by mustelids, but clearly complicates the conservation in restricted natural reserves. Until now, mink remains the only known case of an endangered species capable of colonizing new habitats.