Update on Attack on Iowa Mink Farm

NEW HAMPTON, IOWA - For two days, family, friends and neighbors have worked in shifts from daylight until nightfall at the Drewelow family farm, over 50 people per day, recovering thousands of farm-raised mink. The mink swarmed the farm, then scattered, after 14,000 pens were opened by vandals during the early morning hours of September 7, setting virtually all the animals loose. As of Friday night, September 8, the farmer estimated about 7,000 animals had been recovered.

The farmer turned on his feed mixing machine at regular intervals, attracting many of the hungry animals. Friends and neighbors donned thick leather gloves and used nets to scoop up the animals, returning them to their pens. Local trappers came by and helped with live traps. As the animals seek out buildings, which they associate with food, the phone at the farm rings continuously. Neighbors call in reports of mink approaching houses, mink eating dogfood, mink in chicken coops, mink dead on driveways, mink killed by family dogs.

"We are now retrieving animals that are fatally injured by cars and dogs. We have animals that are dying from the stress of the last 48 hours," stated Lenny Drewelow.

KWWL TV, Des Moines, interviewed a university biologist on whether farm-raised mink could adapt to the wild and make it through an Iowa winter. The biologist stated that the mink would die miserable deaths and that, "The mink that were hit by trucks were the lucky ones."

Vern Fish, director of Hartman Reserve Nature Center in Cedar Falls, doubts thousands of minks can survive in Northeast Iowa, especially those previously living in a cage. In the wild, he estimates it takes one acre of land to support one mink. "I doubt domestic minks have enough skills to survive in the wild, like other cage animals, those instincts are probably bred out of them," Fish said. (1)

"In a few days, the animals will succumb to slow, inhumane deaths due to hunger and stress and too many will be lost to road traffic and dogs," stated Teresa Platt, Executive Director of Fur Commission USA. "Dumping 14,000 carnivores lacking hunting skills into the environment, all at once, is cruelty at its worst. These animals don't know how to get a drink of water except from a spigot."

To help out, good neighbors delivered home cooked food and casseroles for the family and workers.

"The outpouring of concern has been overwhelming," said Lenny Drewelow. "People have been incredibly helpful and kind and we are very thankful." (See An Open Letter of Thanks from Earl Drewelow & Sons Fur Farm)

Anyone finding a lost mink, please use caution since the mink are very hungry, and call Fur Commission USA at (619) 575-0139.

NOTE:

(1) Waterloo Courier, Vandals release minks near New Hampton by Courier Staff, September 7, 2000

See also:

Vandals on Road Trip Attack Farm, Abandon Animals in Broad Daylight FCUSA press release, Sept. 7, 2000.

Over 10,000 Mink Stolen and Abandoned; Local Highway Taking Its Toll FCUSA press release, Sept. 7, 2000.

Press Kit: Safe Farms Support Campaign

For further information contact: Teresa Platt, Executive Director, Fur Commission USA, PMB 506, 826 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118-2698 USA, (619) 575-0139, (619) 575-5578/fax, furfarmers@aol.com, www.furcommission.com.

To take a cyber-tour of a fur farm, visit Fur Commission USA's Fur on Film at http://www.furcommission.com/video/index.htm

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