Mink farming for the fur industry subjects millions of highly active, semi-aquatic carnivores to conditions that are incompatible with their behavioral needs, causing widespread suffering.
The welfare of farmed mink is fundamentally compromised by the farming system itself. These wild-type animals retain strong instincts for hunting, swimming, and extensive ranging that a small wire cage cannot accommodate. Chronic frustration manifests as stereotypic behaviors in a large proportion of farmed mink. Fur-free commitments by major fashion brands have accelerated the decline of mink farming in many markets.