Mink fur farming has faced increasing scrutiny over severe welfare problems. Dozens of countries and jurisdictions have banned or are phasing out the industry.
Mink are solitary in the wild and highly motivated to swim — conditions in fur farms deny both needs entirely. Wire mesh flooring causes foot injuries and allows no retreat from neighboring animals. Standard killing methods used in fur farming, including gassing, cause distress. The fundamental incompatibility between mink behavioral needs and farm confinement has driven legislative bans across Europe and beyond.