Animal Extremists Continue Road Trip of Vandalism

Animal extremists attempted to raid a fur farm in Eden, Wisconsin on the night of Tuesday, August 25, but fled when they were discovered by the farmer. Two nights later, the same group succeeded in releasing thousands of mink at Brown's Fur Farm in Beloit, Wisconsin. Sometime during the early morning hours of Thursday, August 27, vandals cut 30 to 40 feet of fencing and released about 3,000 domesticated mink from their cages. On Friday morning, the scenario was repeated at Zumbro River Fur Farm in Rochester, Minnesota where about 2,800 mink were released. The terrorist group Animal Liberation Front (ALF), which works with the Earth Liberation Group (ELF), sent a press release claiming credit for the releases.

Thanks to the efforts of neighbors in helping recover the animals, most of the domesticated mink were returned to the safety of the farm. However, hundreds were lost to roadkill, stress, dehydration and exhaustion. The damages at each farm will exceed $10,000 which, under the Animal Enterprise Protection Act, escalates these raids to a federal crime. The FBI is investigating.

"Animal extremists have joined up with criminals and are hitting farms, destroying property and causing the deaths of domesticated animals in the most callous manner," stated Teresa Platt, executive director of Fur Commission USA, which represents over 600 U.S.-based fur farmers.

Fur farmers from Canada and the United States are offering a reward fund of up to $100,000 for information leading to the arrest of these dangerous people. Fur farmers and others involved in resource-based industries have asked governments to investigate the escalation of terrorist incidents under the guise of 'saving the planet.' Congress held the first hearings on this issue June 9 in the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee.

In the meantime, animals are still missing and they will be playing havoc with local pets and wildlife, getting run over by cars and dying of stress and starvation, unless they are rounded up and returned to their cages. Anyone seeing a lost mink, please call (619) 575-0139.

© 1998-2010 Fur Commission USA