Mink farming persists in several countries despite growing welfare evidence that cage systems cause chronic stress, stereotypic behavior, and impaired psychological wellbeing in these semi-aquatic predators.
Mink are evolutionarily adapted for large territories, swimming, hunting complex prey, and solitary living. Wire cages prevent all of these behaviors. The result is chronic frustration expressed in stereotypic pacing and repetitive movements — behavioral indicators of psychological distress. Mink also experience fear during the high-density, noise-intense environment of large farms. The growing body of welfare evidence has driven legislative bans in multiple European countries, reflecting a scientific consensus that mink farming is incompatible with adequate welfare.