Prohibit the Operation of Fur Farms

 

The purpose of this bill is to end breeding and killing of animals for their pelts by prohibiting the operation of fur

farms in Minnesota. This bill ensures that animals are no longer kept in inhumane confinement or subjected to harmful

practices solely for fur production. It aims to protect Minnesota's wildlife and to improve animal welfare.

 

Animals killed for fur are confined their entire lives in cramped, unsanitary conditions. Zoologists who studied captive

mink found that despite generations of being bred for fur, mink suffer greatly in captivity. They lack any behavioral

enrichment, and they suffer in tiny wire cages no bigger than a microwave. These animals go stir-crazy, resulting in

self-inflicted wounds and cannibalizing of cage mates, and only death (usually by anal electrocution, gassing or neck

breaking) brings an end to their misery. In the U.S., including in Minnesota, there are essentially no regulations or

oversight of these facilities. Most states don’t even require a permit to operate a fur farm, let alone require any

regular inspections and because fur-farmed animals are not raised for consumption, humane slaughter and animal welfare

laws do not apply. This bill ensures that Minnesota no longer supports an industry that has been widely criticized for

cruelty, with this bill Minnesota's wildlife is protected from inhumane fur farms in Minnesota and makes sure that

violators are held accountable.

 

DNR- The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for conserving and managing

Minnesota's natural resources

Fur Farm- a farm devoted to the raising of fur-bearing animals in a state of semi domestication typically in pens

Fur Farming-the practice of breeding or raising certain types of animals for their fur

 

No additional funding is required for this bill, as the MN DNR will enforce this bill using its existing enforcement

staff and inspection procedures. Conservation Officers already monitor wildlife-related facilities and are trained to

handle violations, so no new department, staff, or funding source is required. Any minor administrative costs such as

documentation or transferring animals to sanctuaries will be covered through the DNR’s current operational budget

dedicated to wildlife regulation and environmental compliance.

 

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Division is responsible for enforcing natural resource laws.

Beginning on the effective date, it shall be unlawful to own, operate, or permit a fur farm within Minnesota

Any person found operating a fur farm after 1/01/2028 shall be fined $20,000, and all animals on the premises may be

seized and transferred to a licensed sanctuary or wildlife rehabilitation facility.

 

January 1, 2028