Farm Animals

Farmed Mink Enrichment and Welfare

Where mink farming continues, enrichment provision is a key welfare intervention to reduce the severe frustration caused by barren wire cages.

Key Facts

Standard mink cages are wire mesh with minimal space or furniture
Mink are semi-aquatic carnivores with complex natural behaviour
Stereotypies including circling and head-swinging indicate chronic frustration
Nest boxes, gnawing objects, and tunnels reduce stereotypy frequency
Most countries that maintain mink farming have welfare codes requiring enrichment

Welfare Considerations

Mink in barren cages suffer significant welfare deficits. While the long-term goal should be phase-out of fur farming, interim enrichment requirements represent a meaningful welfare gain for the tens of millions of mink still being farmed.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for fur farming bans
Avoid purchasing real fur products
Advocate for strong enrichment requirements in countries where mink farming persists