the final nail
news & updates
The Dixon mink farm in Bluffdale, Utah will not be reopening
The Dixon mink farm in Bluffdale, Utah will not be reopening. Bryce Dixon's application for a business license to operate a fur farm has been denied by the city. Because of changes to the zoning code, mink farming is no longer a permitted use of the property. The...
New manufacturer of vaccines for mink industry
At the recent Fur Commission USA annual meeting we learned that Vaxxinova, an international company with U.S. headquarters in Worthington, Minnesota, is the newest (and currently only) company to manufacture vaccines to protect against diseases common on fur farms....
Are there two mink farms operating in Pennsylvania?
At their recent annual meeting, Fur Commission USA reported having two member farms in the state. Among the meeting's attendees were John Stahl, co-owner of a mink farm in the city of Sunbury, and Lee DeMatteis, a member of the family that operated the Oakwood Mink...
USDA discontinuing annual survey of mink pelt production
The USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service is discontinuing its annual survey of mink pelt production and sales. The mink farming industry has shrunk so much that it's not worth the effort and expense to collect the data. That's more bad news for the...
Foxes released from cages at Illinois farm
On Monday night, more than 25 foxes were released from cages at the Littig Fox Farm (pictured) in Bluffs, Illinois.
69 mink farms remaining in the U.S.
Earlier this year in testimony before state legislative committees, Fur Commission USA Executive Director Challis Hobbs claimed, "mink farming in the U.S. supports over 100 family farms." It turns out that he had rounded up significantly! Here's a slide from Challis'...
European Union scientific report on welfare of animals kept for fur production
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is an agency of the European Union that was set up to provide independent scientific advice to policy makers. In 2023 the agency committed to identifying the most relevant welfare issues for mink, foxes, raccoon dogs and...
What was once the world’s largest fur auction house now sits empty
Kopenhagen Fur's enormous headquarters outside Copenhagen, Denmark-- including auction hall, warehouse, and design studio-- is for sale. The building opened in 1963, and hosted its final fur auction in 2024.
Circle R Fox Ranch in Bellville, Ohio is closed
We can now confirm that the Circle R Fox Ranch in Bellville, Ohio is closed. Watchtowers were often built on fox farms so the farmer could observe the animals without disturbing them, particularly during breeding season. At this farm, the tower used to overlook...
Less than 100,000 mink pelts “produced” on Utah mink farms
For the first time since at least 1970, the number of mink pelts "produced" on Utah mink farms has dropped below 100,000, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The number of mink farms in the state has declined along with pelt production. The...
USDA annual survey of mink pelt production
Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its annual survey of mink pelt production, and the news was bad for the industry! In 2024, 771,200 mink were killed on fur farms in the U.S. That's a horrible number, but it's less than half what it was 3 years...
Ohio farm missing hundreds of mink!
There are only three or four fur farms in Ohio, and one of the farms is missing hundreds of mink after an Independence Day raid by animal activists! In an interview with the local newspaper, Dennis Tonn summed up the situation at his fur farm in the city of Massillon,...
How long can fox farmers hang on if they can’t sell pelts for a profit?
At Saga Furs June auction, demand for fox pelts continued to be weak. Saga, the world's largest fur auction house, was able to find buyers for only 39% of all fox pelts offered for sale. And according to Saga, the prices they sold for "are still unprofitable for the...
American mink added to list of invasive species in Europe
Today, a majority of European Union member states voted to add the American mink to its list of invasive species (American mink were brought to Europe in the early 20th century to establish fur farms). This means that, once the changes take effect in 2027, the import...
Where next for fur farming?
Last month, Bulgaria shut down its last mink farm, and we learned that every one of Sweden's remaining mink farms has applied for government financial support to close down. Plus a proposed fur farming ban in Poland is gaining support. 22 countries in Europe have...