Thought of the Day - June 2 2021 - Mink Again

About a year ago we first started talking about mink. It seems that they are susceptible to the same coronaviruses as humans, and the disease can spread rapidly ( Thought of the Day - June 12 - Mink ) through a captive population. Later in the year the outbreaks in Denmark, the world's largest mink producer, led to a cull of their entire mink population (some 17 million). In addition, further outbreaks were reported around the world including here in Canada ( Thought of the Day - November 9 - Mink Again in the Headlines ).

Subsequently, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency said that nearby watersheds could be polluted by the mass mink graves. After six months in the ground, authorities believe that the carcasses no longer pose a risk of infection of the virus. Excavated mink from graves in Jutland are now going to thirteen incineration plants throughout Denmark. The last of the 13,000 tons of mink are expected to be burned by mid-July.

Here are home, mink on another B.C. farm, the third, tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 mid-May, reigniting cries to ban mink farms in the province. This coming as the demand for personal luxury goods, like fur coats, continues to boom.

It looks like mink, coronavirus and the human condition will continue to be linked for some time to come.

Cheers

Cliff