Scores of Freed Mink Feed on Farm Animals (Update)

AP ^ | Fri, Aug 29, 2003

[presidio9]

Days after 10,000 mink were released from a farm in southern Snohomish County, hundreds of the animals not yet captured have converged on local farms in search of food.

The animals had killed at least 25 exotic birds and attacked other livestock in the area.

"Over half our livestock was shredded. Murdered. Eaten alive," said Jeff Weaver, who discovered the dead birds on his farm Thursday. "These are not like regular farm animals. They're our pets."

Weaver, who breeds Indian Runner ducks and Banny chickens, said his field was full of the animals Thursday morning.

"One of the mink had part of a chicken in its mouth and was headed for the creek," he said. "They're starving. They'll kill anything in their path."

The mink also killed Weaver's geese, chicken and ducks, as well as wounded a dog and ate a 50-pound bag of bird feed. With an estimated loss of $2,000, he said he plans to improve fences, set traps and, if necessary, use a shotgun to fend off future assaults.

Diane and Joe Sallee are sealing their chickens in at night after they found the mink had killed six hens and injured several other that had to be euthanized.

"This has just devastated our chicken population. We are just so upset by this," Diane Sallee said. "The people who do these things don't think it through."

Animal activists argue that while the farm animals' deaths are unfortunate, it proves minks raised in captivity can survive in the wild.

"The amount of suffering that has been prevented by releasing them from cramped cages and freeing them from an extremely cruel death more than justifies a temporary disruption to the ecosystem," said veterinarian Andrew Knight, director of research at the Seattle-based Northwest Animal Rights Network.

Owners of the mink farm from which the animals were released estimate about 80 percent of the animals have been captured, leaving more than 1,000 unaccounted for, said Teresa Platt, executive director of Fur Commission USA. The commission is offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to the arrests and convictions of those responsible.

The FBI (news - web sites), which is leading the investigation, suspects an out-of-state group is responsible for the mink release at the Roesler Brothers Fur Farm off U.S. Highway 2.

The Animal Liberation Front, considered a domestic terrorist group by the FBI, has claimed responsibility.

Weaver argues that the group that released the animals didn't think of the repercussions.

"I'm not into anyone running around with fur coats on," he said. "But you cannot let 10,000 semicarnivorous animals out without having serious consequences."

[LisaAnne]

Animal activists argue that while the farm animals' deaths are unfortunate, it proves minks raised in captivity can survive in the wild.

Since when is eating domesticated animals/pets surviving in the wild? Sometimes I wonder if these people majored in "I Want To Be Stupid When I Grow Up", in school or if they are just naturally gifted.

[presidio9]

Kim Bassinger commends the brave freedom fighters.

[Restorer]

Mink aren't rodents, except perhaps in a pejorative sense.

They're members of the same family as weasels, ferrets and wolverines.

I wonder what the chance of one of them tackling a small child is?

[djf]

She's supposed to be laying on a bear skin rug! People really don't know how to treat dames good anymore!

[cavtrooper21]

.22 rimfire makes a small hole.
Get the wife a mink stole.
Pop goes the mink
Kinda catchy, don't you think???

[RogueIsland]

Maybe the mink can fight it out with the nutria in Louisiana and the two problems will solve each other nicely.

[Lost Highway]

drool.....

[the gillman@blacklagoon.com]

They will attack anything if they are hungry. Since they are not native and wild, they are a major threat to everything living in the area.

If I had a farm or pets or kids in that neighborhood, I'd have a little chat with that idiot veterinarian.

[presidio9]

[Ramius]

Methinks Mr. Knight needs a trip to Gitmo.

[Verginius Rufus]

Yes, the mink [le vison] is a member in good standing of the Axis of Weasels [l'Axe de belettes].

[presidio9]

[50sDad]

Anyone know the truth over the story going around a few years ago concerning some NatureNut group that dyed those adorable white seal pups flourescnt green so that hunters wouldn't want them...overlooking the fact that God made them white so they will blend in with the snow...and not get eaten by their enemy, the polar bear.....

[presidio9]

They're members of the same family as weasels, ferrets and wolverines.

Trivia bonus: Skunks are also in this family.

[Lost Highway]

Have you seen this? http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/972810/posts

[PBRSTREETGANG]

So does PETA stand for:

People Eying Titillating Actresses

or

People Enjoying T & A?

[presidio9]

some NatureNut group that dyed those adorable white seal pups flourescnt green so that hunters wouldn't want them...overlooking the fact that God made them white so they will blend in with the snow...and not get eaten by their enemy, the polar bear.....

...which inevitibly forced said NatureNut to even the score...

[mommadooo3]

HELL. If it were me, I'd set up live traps, catch the little vermin and take them out to be released....either INSIDE that 'vet's' office, OR on his land.

I have to wonder...did the farmers KNOW about the minks on the loose BEFGORE they attacked? If so, then WHY didn't they load their guns and wait?

Our loose dogs/donkey do a good job of chasing away various varmints. Any that sneak past them, are fun targets.

[presidio9]

Why not both.


BTW, if you look for these adds on the web, you'll find all kinds of protests from the uglyy chick crowd who are just beside themselves at how sexist they are. My personal favorite: One hag complains that the ads featuring a woman significantly outweigh the ones with men in them. Duh! Men rarely wear fur.

[presidio9]

Our loose dogs/donkey do a good job of chasing away various varmints.

The minks wounded a farm dog. I think it was just a case of overwhelming numbers. The were starving after all.