In August 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed that mink at two Utah fur farms tested positive for the coronavirus. Workers at these farms were also infected. Large numbers of animals died. These were the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in mink on U.S. fur farms, and they exposed a dangerous reality that animal advocates have warned about for years.

Mink are sensitive, intelligent animals who suffer intensely on fur farms. They are confined to small wire cages for their entire lives, unable to swim, explore, or engage in natural behaviors. Many are killed using crude methods once their pelts are ready. These animals are bred only to be treated as disposable products.

The outbreak in Utah showed that fur farms are not just cruel, they are dangerous. Around the world, mink farms have become hotspots for coronavirus transmission. More than 1.5 million mink were killed overseas in failed attempts to contain outbreaks. Even after mass killings, experts warned that these farms could remain reservoirs for the virus, threatening both animals and people.

Utah is one of the largest mink fur producers in the country, with dozens of farms and hundreds of thousands of animals killed each year for fashion that many consumers no longer want. Fur is not a necessity. It is a luxury built on suffering, and the market for it is rapidly shrinking.

We urge the Utah State Legislature and the Governor of Utah to take action now. Ban mink fur farming statewide. Protect animals from cruelty. Protect workers and communities from future outbreaks. Utah should lead with compassion and common sense, not cling to an industry that harms animals and endangers public health.

Please sign this petition to stand up for mink who cannot speak for themselves and to demand a safer, more humane future for Utah.

Photo: Humane World for Animals