Mink farming causes severe welfare compromise through confinement, inability to express natural behaviours, and chronic stress in highly active, semi-aquatic carnivores.
The welfare evidence against mink farming is overwhelming. Mink are highly active, semi-aquatic predators with complex behavioural repertoires including swimming, hunting, and territorial exploration. Wire cage confinement eliminates virtually all natural behaviours, causing extreme frustration. Stereotypic behaviours — repetitive swimming motions, pacing, and head swinging — are documented in the majority of caged mink and indicate severe psychological distress. Cannibalism and self-mutilation are common in intensive systems. Despite decades of welfare research, no commercially viable system has been demonstrated to meet mink welfare needs adequately. The scientific evidence base has supported the bans enacted across Europe as proportionate welfare protection measures.