Mustelids including otters, mink, ferrets, and badgers have specific welfare needs in captivity related to their active, curious nature and specialized diets.
Wild mustelids in rehabilitation or captivity are among the most challenging animals to maintain with adequate welfare. Their high activity levels, complex foraging behaviors, and specialized dietary needs are difficult to replicate. Mustelids kept as exotic pets without appropriate housing and diet suffer from nutritional deficiencies and behavioral deprivation. River otters in rehabilitation must maintain hunting skills - excessive contact with humans through well-meaning but inappropriate interaction prevents release. Captive mink showing the highest stereotypy rates of any farmed species demonstrate the mismatch between their behavioral needs and what intensive farming provides.