Farm Animals

Mink Farming and Fur Industry Welfare

Mink are semi-aquatic carnivores farmed in wire cages for fur, creating profound welfare harms for millions of animals each year.

Key Facts

Global mink fur production peaked at 90 million pelts per year
Mink are kept in wire cages as small as 30 x 90 cm
They are natural swimmers needing water access denied on farms
COVID-19 spread between mink on farms, causing mass culls

Welfare Considerations

Farmed mink display high rates of stereotypic behaviors including repetitive circling, self-mutilation, and infanticide. Their predatory, semi-aquatic nature is fundamentally incompatible with wire-cage confinement. Over 15 European countries have banned mink farming; the practice is slowly ending globally.

What You Can Do

Choose fur-free fashion and certified alternatives
Support bans on mink farming in your country
Avoid products labeled with real fur
Donate to campaigns exposing fur industry conditions