Mink farming involves keeping highly active, semi-aquatic predators in wire cages, creating profound welfare problems that have led to bans in over 20 countries.
The welfare case against mink farming is among the strongest in animal agriculture. Mink are specialists — evolved for active hunting, swimming, and solitary territorial roaming — and their housing in small wire cages is incompatible with virtually every aspect of their behavioral biology. The resulting stereotypic behaviors are well-documented indicators of chronic psychological suffering. The fur industry has responded with enrichment requirements and larger cages in some jurisdictions, but critics argue that no commercially viable system can adequately meet mink welfare needs. The wave of national bans reflects a growing consensus that the welfare costs of mink farming cannot be adequately mitigated.