The role of disease in population regulation is often overlooked in ecology and conservation. Due to their diversity, the musteloids host a wide range of pathogens. These include diseases of commercial importance, such Aleutian mink disease virus which impacts mink ranching, or bovine tuberculosis leading to interventions to manage European badgers. Skunks and raccoons are major rabies hosts in North America, and because these small carnivores insinuate themselves into close proximity with people, they can pose substantial zoonotic risks. Musteloids also share diseases between species, such as mustelid herpes virus, canine distemper and infectious hepatitis viruses, along with a range of nematodes and protozoans; presenting a contagion risk when vulnerable musteloids are being conserved or reintroduced. Managing host density, vaccination and host isolation are thus the best tools for managing disease, where we advocate the UN-led ‘One Health approach, aimed at reducing risks of infectious diseases at the Animal-Human-Ecosystem interface