Editing Mustelidae (section)

== Human uses ==
[[File:Léonard de Vinci - Dame à l'.jpg|thumb|upright|Detail from [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s ''[[Lady with an Ermine]]'',  1489–1490]]

Several mustelids, including the mink, the [[sable]] (a type of marten), and the [[stoat]] (ermine), possess [[furs]] that are considered beautiful and valuable, so have been  hunted since prehistoric times. From the early Middle Ages, the [[fur trade|trade in furs]] was of great economic importance for northern and eastern European nations with large native populations of fur-bearing mustelids, and was a major economic impetus behind Russian expansion into [[Siberia]] and French and English expansion in North America. In recent centuries [[fur farming]], notably of mink, has also become widespread and provides the majority of the fur brought to market.

One species, the [[sea mink]] (''Neogale macrodon'') of New England and Canada, was driven to [[extinction]] by fur trappers. Its appearance and habits are almost unknown today because no complete specimens can be found and no systematic contemporary studies were conducted.

The [[sea otter]], which has the densest fur of any animal,<ref>Perrin, William F., Wursig, Bernd, and [[Hans Thewissen|Thewissen]], J.G.M. ''Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, 2nd ed.'' Academic Press; 2 edition (December 8, 2008). Page 529. [https://books.google.com/books?id=2rkHQpToi9sC&pg=PA529]</ref> narrowly escaped the fate of the sea mink. The discovery of large populations in the North Pacific was the major economic driving force behind Russian expansion into [[Kamchatka]], the [[Aleutian Islands]], and [[Alaska]], as well as a cause for conflict with [[Japan]] and foreign hunters in the [[Kuril Islands]]. Together with widespread hunting in California and British Columbia, the species was brought to the brink of extinction until an international moratorium came into effect in 1911.

Today, some mustelids are threatened for other reasons. Sea otters are vulnerable to [[oil spill]]s and the indirect effects of overfishing; the [[black-footed ferret]], a relative of the [[European polecat]], suffers from the loss of American [[prairie]]; and [[wolverine]] populations are slowly declining because of [[habitat destruction]] and persecution. The rare [[European mink]] (''Mustela lutreola'') is one of the most [[endangered]] mustelid species.<ref>{{cite journal |author-link=Thierry Lodé |first1=Thierry |last1=Lodé |first2=J. P. |last2=Cornier |first3=D. |last3=Le Jacques |year=2001 |title=Decline in endangered species as an indication of anthropic pressures: the case of European mink Mustela lutreola western population |journal=Environmental Management |volume=28 |issue=6 |pages=727–735 |doi=10.1007/s002670010257 |pmid=11915962 |bibcode=2001EnMan..28..727L |s2cid=27062634 }}</ref>

The [[ferret]], a domesticated European polecat, is a fairly common [[pet]].