History of Fur Farming in Canada

Traditionally, only indigenous peoples trapped and killed fur-bearing animals for clothing and trade. But when the first Europeans arrived, the fur trade became a major economic activity and the fur industry changed dramatically.

Fox farming started on Prince Edward Island during the 1890's. Sir Charles Dalton and Robert Oulton began the domestication of foxes when they started the world’s first fox farm using fox pups obtained from the wild.

The first mink farming attempts in Canada took place during 1866-87 by Patterson Bros in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Other species of furbearers that were farmed at that time included raccoon, marten, and lynx but over time these attempts proved unsuccessful and were mostly fazed out.

Up to the 1910s, fur farming was mostly practiced in the Maritime Provinces, but the industry also moved into Ontario and Quebec and to some isolated areas in the Western provinces.

Today, fur farms in Canada are mostly located in Nova Scotia, Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Québec.

Fur Farming in Canada Today

According to Statistics Canada, approximately 2.6 million animals are raised and killed on fur farms each year.

The two main fur bearing animal species currently raised on fur farms are mink (Neovison vison, also known as Mustela vison) and the silver Fox (Vulpes vulpes). There is also a small amount of chinchilla ranching in Canada.

Foxes on fur farms live in small wire mesh cages where they eat, sleep, urinate and defecate. Cages are in rows under open or partially open sheds.

Published by Agriculture Canada, the "Recommended Code of Practice for Ranched Fox", suggests foxes should be killed by anal electrocution. In fact there is a specific tool called the "Norwegian Fox Stunner Type 3", which can be connected to a 12-volt car battery. Probes are then inserted into the anus and mouth and an electric current is delivered for a minimum of 5 seconds.

Other suggested methods of killing foxes include poison (barbiturates overdose) and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Minks are also kept in small wire mesh cages, in rows under an open or partially opened shed. They are most often killed by carbon monoxide (in a chamber) or by electrical stunning followed by “cervical dislocation” – a.k.a neck breaking or snapping the spine. (This is suggested in the "Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Mink, published by Agriculture Canada.)

Fur Farm Bans

Fur farming is so controversial, many countries have heavily restricted or imposed bans on these cruel operations. For a detailed list of current bans please download the pdf here.