Vandals free countless mink from cages at PA farm.
Breaking News: Thousands of mink have staged a daring escape from a Pennsylvania mink farm, causing chaos in Northumberland County. According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, an animal rights organization is taking credit for the incident.
The Richard H. Stahl Sons farm was thrown into turmoil when the fence surrounding the farm was mysteriously vandalized, resulting in the release of approximately 6,000 to 8,000 mink. Although the exact number of escaped mink is still uncertain, officials estimate that hundreds are now on the loose.
“Releasing thousands of mink into the wild is a cause for concern,” warns Lt. Aaron Morrow of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. These native predators pose a threat to local wildlife, including small birds, reptiles, and mammals. Ensuring public safety is our top priority.”
The public is urged to be cautious and keep a close eye on their small pets. Attempting to capture or handle mink is strongly discouraged, as they can scratch, transfer saliva, and potentially spread diseases.
The Sunbury Animal Hospital is working closely with the Game Commission to safely manage the situation and prevent any further harm to the community.
“Approach these animals with extreme caution. They are not suitable as pets and should not be taken into homes or rescues,” advises the Sunbury Animal Hospital in a Facebook post. ”If you encounter a mink, keep a safe distance and ensure your pets are indoors. If you manage to trap a mink, dead or alive, bring it to the animal hospital.”
The Pennsylvania State Police are currently investigating the incident, while the Richard H. Stahl Sons farm remains unresponsive to inquiries.
Animal Activists Take Credit
A spokesperson for the radical animal activist group, the North American Animal Liberation Front, revealed to The Epoch Times that they received an anonymous communication from the individual responsible for the mink release. The communication included photos and videos of the operation.
“As the cage latches were opened, the mink eagerly embraced their newfound freedom in the grass and mud,” the communication stated. “We hope most of them have escaped to freedom, and we pray that no more animals will ever be imprisoned or slaughtered on this farm. We want to make it financially burdensome for mink farms to operate.”
The writer expressed their determination to continue targeting such farms and provided the farm’s address and a website that maps other businesses across the nation involved in animal exploitation, including mink and fox farms, fur buyers, and farms conducting laboratory research on animals such as pigs, goats, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, mice, and rats.
The North American Animal Liberation Front frequently shares information about international animal “liberations,” often involving destructive or illegal actions. These updates typically include anonymous communications containing photos, addresses, and calls to action for like-minded individuals to join in similar activities.
In a separate incident in August, a fox farm in Minnesota experienced a similar release of animals after their cages were opened. The vandals behind the act left a message stating, “As we fight against all forms of oppression, we recognize that this fight extends to both humans and non-human animals. Down with speciesism!”
Furthermore, the Trempealeau County Wisconsin Sheriff’s Office reported that around 3,000 mink escaped when a hole was cut in a chain-link fence at another mink farm.
The North American Animal Liberation Front has also documented various acts of vandalism, including broken windows at a butcher shop in Portland, Oregon, and similar actions both in the United States and worldwide.
1) What were the motivations behind the PAA’s release of the mink from fur farms?
Imes that they were responsible for the release of the mink. The group claims that their action was a protest against the fur industry and the mistreatment of animals on fur farms.
“The mink in these farms are kept in cruel and inhumane conditions. They are confined to small cages and subjected to physical and psychological suffering,” the spokesperson stated. “By releasing them, we are giving them a chance at freedom and a life in their natural habitat.”
This is not the first time that animal rights activists have targeted fur farms. In recent years, there have been several incidents of mink releases and vandalism at fur farms across the country.
However, the consequences of these actions can be far-reaching. When mink escape from fur farms, they can cause significant damage to the local ecosystem. Mink are highly adaptable predators and can decimate local populations of small birds and mammals.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is now working on recapturing the escaped mink and minimizing the impact on the environment. They have set up live traps and are monitoring the area for any signs of the escaped animals.
Meanwhile, local residents are advised to report any sightings of the mink to the authorities and to take precautions to protect their pets and livestock. There have been reports of mink attacking and killing small pets, so it is important to keep them indoors and secure.
The fur industry, on the other hand, argues that the release of mink poses a serious threat to their businesses. Mink farming is a significant industry in Pennsylvania, and the escape of such a large number of animals can have economic repercussions.
Animal rights activists, however, see this as a small victory in their ongoing struggle against the fur industry. They hope that actions like this will raise awareness about the cruel practices involved in fur farming and eventually lead to its abolition.
As the search for the escaped mink continues, the authorities and animal rights activists are at odds. While the activists see themselves as champions for animal welfare, the authorities are focused on the potential harm that the released mink can cause.
It remains to be seen how this incident will be resolved and what impact it will have on the ongoing debate about fur farming and animal rights. But one thing is certain – the escape of thousands of mink has brought attention to the issue and sparked a new wave of discussions and debates.
For now, the residents of Northumberland County can only hope that the escaped mink are captured soon and that no further harm comes to the local wildlife and community.
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