Mustelids including stoats, weasels, polecats, and badgers have specific welfare needs in rehabilitation and captivity that require specialised knowledge due to their high activity requirements and sensitivity to stress.
Mustelid welfare in captive contexts, whether rehabilitation or companion keeping, is complicated by the extreme physiological demands of these animals. Their high metabolic rates mean that food deprivation even for short periods causes rapid deterioration, while inappropriate diets cause chronic disease in domestic ferrets. Their extreme stress sensitivity means that inappropriate handling during wildlife rehabilitation can itself cause death from exertional myopathy. Small wild species including stoats and weasels have such specific dietary and habitat requirements that successful rehabilitation is very challenging. Badgers in captivity require social housing and large spaces to prevent the significant psychological deterioration that isolation causes. Specialised training and facilities are essential for working with any mustelid species.