Fur farming is an intensive farming practice that confines wild animals in small cages before they are killed for their fur. The end product, fur pelts, is sold mostly to international markets for the luxury fashion industry.
Status of fur farming in Canada
Hundreds of thousands of animals are farmed for their fur in Canada each year, the most common two animals being mink and fox. Other animals farmed for their fur include wolves, bobcats, lynxes and chinchillas. According to the 2021 Census of Agriculture, there were 79 mink and 18 fox farms in Canada. Nova Scotia and Ontario are the largest fur-producing provinces.
In B.C., wild animals can be farmed for their fur under the Animal Health Act – Fur Farm Regulation. In 2021, the B.C. government announced a ban on mink farming in the province under this regulation – the only province with any fur farming ban. Unfortunately, it is still legal to farm other animals for fur in B.C. Currently, there is only one fur farm in operation in the province which raises chinchillas.
The BC SPCA opposes fur farming, but unfortunately, this is a legal industry in Canada. Until the fur industry no longer exists, we expect mink and fox farms to meet the requirements outlined in the Canadian Codes of Practice for farmed mink and farmed fox.
The Codes of Practice are developed through the National Farm Animal Care Council, and all mink and fox farmers are expected to meet these minimum standards. However, there is no independent monitoring in place, meaning there is no assurance that the standards are being met. There are no Codes of Practice for chinchillas or other animals raised for fur.
Impacts to animal welfare
Fur farming is inherently inhumane, as wild animals are bred and raised in captivity for our use. Even after generations of being farmed, these animals remain wild in nature. They still have the animal welfare needs of their wild counterparts, which cannot be met on a farm.
Animals on Canadian fur farms are animals that live in extensive home ranges in the wild. On fur farms, these animals spend their entire lives in small cages. They cannot run, hunt, socialize or engage in many natural behaviours they would in the wild. Because of this, animals on fur farms suffer from serious physical and psychological problems.
Other impacts of fur farming
Environment
Fur farming can negatively impact the environment surrounding the farm and even extend far beyond. Manure runoff from fur farms can affect the soil and the water quality in nearby bodies of water or groundwater. Soil and water contamination harm the surrounding ecosystem and can pose risks to water sources.
Public health
The intensive nature of fur farming can increase the risk of disease emergence and transmission, as highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the close confinement of mink on fur farms and the large number of animals kept on each farm, rapid transmission of the COVID-19 virus among mink was observed on many fur farms across the globe, including in Canada. Animal-to-human transmission of the virus and the development of mink-associated variants also occurred. Fur farming also poses a risk to wild animal populations due to the threat of disease spillover from fur farms.
Reconciliation
Fur farming conflicts with traditional Indigenous values. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs supported the B.C. government’s decision to phase out mink farming.
Public opinion
The message from Canadians is clear: 78% of Canadians oppose farming animals for their fur (81% of British Columbians are opposed)1. A year after the B.C. government announced phasing out mink farms in the province, a commissioned poll of British Columbians confirmed that an overwhelming majority from all regions of the province agreed with the decision to close mink farms – only 8% disagreed2.
Our work to end fur farming
The BC SPCA and other animal advocates have long spoken about the concerning conditions on mink farms, including the cramped, barren housing for these wild animals. It was not until mink farming became an active public health risk, spreading COVID-19 among mink, farm workers, and their communities, that the government banned the practice, citing public health concerns. We advocated for government assistance to help farmers and workers find new sources of income and careers during the transition period.
View a timeline of our work to end mink farming in B.C.
Take action
Fur farming in Canada continues to decline, but it is still legal. In February 2022, Bill C-247 was introduced to the House of Commons to prohibit fur farming of all species in Canada. However, progress on this bill has stalled. Contact your local Member of Parliament (MP) to let them know that you disagree with fur farming across Canada and that Bill C-247 should be implemented.
Additional resources
- Learn more about wild animals killed for their fur
References
1 Research Co. poll conducted for Fur Bearer Defenders July 24-25, 2024 (n=804, margin of error +/-3.5%, 19 times out of 20)
2 Stratcom poll conducted for the BC SPCA July 14-22, 2022 (n=1000, margin of error +/-3.5%, 19 times out of 20)
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