Mustelid Madness Mink Rescue Project

Mustelid Madness Mink Rescue Project:

Our resident rescued fur farm mink, Nico, has been with us for about three years now! He is living his best life- happy & stress free, his fur coat belongs to him & no one else. Nico is an amazing individual, and it's difficult to believe that millions of fur farm mink just like him are killed every year in the US for the fur market. Very few mink born on fur farms make it out alive... we believe that those that do make it out deserve the absolute best life possible.

The mink we will be working with are domestic escaped fur farm mink, (or surrendered mink from fur farm lines). These mink have been selectively bred in captivity for 100-150 years, and cannot be released into the wild. Mink require a lot of time, care, and space, and we will be better able to manage their individual needs by keeping our numbers low- we plan to intake just two mink in 2021. This may not seem like much, but it will completely change the lives of those two individuals. There are several other wonderful mink rescues in the US also working with these amazing animals, so it is unlikely that a mink in need will ever go unhelped if it’s brought to the attention of the rescue community. In the future, we may be able to expand the number of mink we can work with, depending on time, resources, and depending upon the approval/concerns of the Wyoming Game & Fish dept.

The goal of the Mustelid Madness Mink Rescue Project is to provide socialization, travel conditioning, and medical & behavioural evaluations for each mink we intake. We will develop a care and socialization program based on each mink’s individual needs. Applications for our adoptable mink will not open until they have been with us for a minimum of thirty days, to give us time to start socialization and evaluate their individual personality. Some mink may remain at Mustelid Madness for permanent sanctuary. Approved applicants will be matched to the mink that would be the best fit for their situation. Approved applicants that may not be a good match for the particular mink we have in care will go on a waiting list for future intakes that may better fit their situation. It is very important to us to ensure that each mink will be going to a situation that best suits it’s individual needs. We also understand that some applicants may have such diverse abilities & resources that they would be a good fit for almost any individual mink that comes into our care.

Each mink will be tested for ADV prior to being admitted to the MMMRP. Upon arrival, they will be quarantined away from other humans and animals for 10 days, for Covid-19 protocols (with the exception of a medical emergency that requires immediate vet care). After 10 days, the mink will be brought to our amazing local exotics/wildlife veterinarian for a physical examination, microchip, and other routein care

The mink will be housed in an outdoor run with a two story private lockout cage/hutch. Each cage will include multi levels for climbing, a basin of water for water play, a den box for privacy, a litter box, beds/blankets, and safe enrichment items. 

The run itself will include larger pools, additional den space, and climbing opportunities to encourage fitness & exercise. The shared exercise area is approximately 10' by 10'. We will request that adopters provide a minimum enclosure space of 60 sq ft.

The floor of the run is completely wired over to prevent digging out, and is surfaced with stones and mulch. It includes logs, branches, tunnels, and other fun enrichment. The top of the enclosure is also wired over, even in sections with roofing, to prevent climbing out.

Due to the fact that the sale and trade of domestic mink, when kept as pets, is federally regulated under the USDA, we will be applying for USDA licensure as soon as our new enclosures are constructed. Being USDA licensed means that our little rescue will be held accountable to the care standards of the Animal Welfare Act. We will be subject to regular inspections, and our inspection results will be available to the public through the USDA. We will strive to not only meet, but to exceed the Animal Welfare Act’s standard of care. We will also maintain (and have already been approved for) a state permit with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. They strive to ensure that all animals possessed under state permit are kept responsibly and safely. We will also be subject to inspections by our regional game warden, and will be keeping him closely informed about the progress of this project.

As of August 1st 2021, we are ready to begin intaking displaced fur farm mink.

We will be striving to raise some funds to help offset the costs involved in our mink rescue project. Mustelid Madness is not yet incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit, though this is definitely our goal. However, filing to become an official non-profit is costly and time consuming. Our goal is to file for this status within three years of opening. Until that point, the rescue will still be run as if it was a non-profit, with completely separate records of finances and assets. Donations made during this time period will not be tax deductible for the donor, and the rescue will be paying taxes on donations made. Our financial records can be provided to anyone who asks upon request. Donations will be used for housing, vet care, food, supplies, transport, labor, and other various items directly associated with the operation of the rescue.

Please consider making a donation or purchasing some “Mustelid Merch” to help support our Mink Rescue Project. This project will only be possible through the support of the public. We do not receive any grants or state funding, nor do we currently have any hourly paid/salaried positions. We are completely volunteer based & self funded. All raised funds will go directly to our projects.