The year 2013 has seen an unprecedented number of captive fur-bearing animals liberated from the terror they endure on these so-called “fur farms” in North America. As of this writing, eleven known raids on farms have taken place in the last 3 months and at least 9071 animals have been released into the wild, where they have a significant chance to live their lives as nature intended. With two months remaining before the majority of captive animals are killed for their skins, there is reason to believe more liberations are imminent.
Mink Farmer George Rykola, Cambria Township, PA
Those prisoners unfortunate enough to be left behind have a 100% mortality rate at the hands of fur farmers like Einar Myhre, in Grand Meadow, Minnesota, who will murder them as soon as their fur is sufficiently thick to ensure his maximum profit, usually by anal electrocution, gassing or neck-breaking. Those who profit from the exploitation, abuse and killing of fur-bearing animals have scripted replies when interviewed about raids on their facilities, replies that have little basis in fact and that are designed to win undeserved sympathy from the public.
For instance, captors will usually note that 90 percent of all the released animals have been recaptured, as if these wild animals just lazily stand around waiting to be locked up again in their tiny cages. Animals farmed for their fur are imprisoned in cages for life, forced to endure intensive confinement, compared to the miles of territory the still-wild animals would enjoy in their natural state. Mink in particular are motivated to access swimming water, and the absence of water is a source of frustration on modern farms.
Captors will go on to state the other 10 percent of liberated animals were run over by cars, though often there are no major roads anywhere in the area. These lies are repeated so often and so identically they are obviously contrived. Moreover, self-mutilation, sickness, infection, poor sanitation and the sheer stress of confinement lead animals in captivity to premature death, with 10-15% mink and up to 25% of foxes dying before the farmer can kill them.
Mink Farmer Bob Zimbal, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
The lies repeated by captors are so often and so identical that they are obviously contrived.
Another scripted argument put forth by the raided farmer is that the animals are domesticated, like pets, and are unable to survive when released into the wild. This is a blatantly false statement, contradicted by experience and scientific studies. Mink and other species have been released into the wild, followed with the help of radio banding, and found to roam miles and survive long-term on a regular basis. A recent Vancouver Sun newspaper article quoted Canadian wildlife biologist Mark Pimlott: ”Mink are wild animals raised in captivity. They will suffer high mortality in the first few weeks. But no one can convince me there won’t be survivors….Newfoundland, Iceland, Britain, Scandinavia and the former Soviet Union are among the areas in which escapes from mink farms have resulted in viable wild populations.”
Inside a Mink Farm, 2013
Fur farmers also frequently whine that their livelihood is under attack, as if their choice to imprison, exploit and kill others trumps the ethics involved. Just as slave owners could not choose this argument to maintain their chosen lifestyle, neither can the profit from selling the skins of another being justify the existence of these immoral purveyors of terror.
The Animal Liberation Front and other animal liberationists will continue to utilize not only the direct liberation of animals from the terrorists who abuse and imprison wild animals, but also economic sabotage to halt needless animal suffering. Destroying breeding cards and farm equipment and fences, and therefore making it more
Aerial View, New Holstein Mink Farm, Wisconsin
expensive to trade in the lives of sentient beings ensures that the atrocities committed against these innocents are likely to occur in smaller numbers. Until every last fur farmer has been displaced, bankrupted or destroyed, liberationists acting on behalf of dis-empowered animals will continue their campaign.
The terrorist facilities raided since July of this year include:
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Jul. 27: Shelli Frazier, 6934 Highway 200, Plains, Montana (1 bobcat)
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Jul. 28: Fur Commission Board Member Cindy Moyle, Burley, Idaho (2400 mink liberated)
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Aug. 14: East Fork Mink Ranch, 1875 Nelson Road, Morris, Illinois (2000 mink)
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Aug. 26: Royal Oak Fur Farm, Simcoe, Ontario (800 mink and fox)
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Aug. 30: Don Conrad, 1109 190th Street Keota, Iowa (100 mink)
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Sep. 13: Harold Ovard, Wanship Utah (20 mink)
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Sep. 25: Rykola Mink Farm, 557 Colver Road, Ebensburg, Pennsylvania (500+ mink)
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Sep. 29: Lion Farms, 2707 Hoaglin Road, Van Wert, Ohio (300 mink)
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Oct. 2: Unnamed fur farm, 28250 Downes Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia (500 mink)
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Oct. 5: Bonlander Furs, New Holstein, Wisconsin (2000 mink)
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Oct. 7: Myhre Mink Farm, Highway 16, Grand Meadow, Minnesota (450 mink)
Since December of 2011, at least three suspicious fires have destroyed mink farm facilities, including an October 11 fire in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota that did $500,000 worth of damage. In addition, there have been dozens of smaller acts of economic sabotage against the fur industry, both in North America and beyond, costing the industry millions of dollars in profit.
Fur farming is already banned in Austria, Croatia and the United Kingdom, and in Switzerland,
Bobcat imprisoned at Montana fur farm, 2009
the regulations are so strict that there are no fur farms. There are only roughly 300 fur farms, in 23 states, remaining in the US; there is no reason to believe that the current war on terror here in this country, conducted by compassionate individuals who have never harmed a human being in hundreds of similar raids over 30 years, cannot achieve the obliteration of these final few bastions of cruelty, wanton abuse and yes, terror. Its up to you, dear reader, to join the fight against terror. Its neither difficult nor complicated, just select a target and get the job done as so many have before you. Fight terrorism now!
A copy of the Final Nail, a listing of all known fur farm locations in North America, is available here and here.
