BY SAM SHRIVER
Times Bulletin Reporter
VAN
WERT COUNTY — The Animal Liberation Front is now claiming
responsibility for the release of more than 10,000 mink from Lion Farms
on Hoaglin Road in November.
In a posting on the organization’s website, the political group took credit for the attack.
“Last
month, at least 10,000 mink were liberated from this hell of humanity’s
making by the Animal Liberation Front. This is what illegal direct
action achieves — closing in one night what years of opposition could
not. No longer will thousands of wild animals be held captive, then
murdered in the cruel fur trade at this location. The number of fur
farms in America has dwindled from more than 300 in the 1990s to less
than 100 today, as the fur industry continues its steady decline into
oblivion,” the statement read.
Friday, December 23, was the last day of operations for the farm.
The
mink that hadn’t already escaped had already been killed in preparation
for the closure.The operation is in the process of being purchased by
Cooper Farms, according to operations manager Eddie Meyer.
During
the release of the mink, it was originally estimated that 40,000 had
escaped, but that number was revised after many of them remained on the
property and were captured by workers.
ALF even spray-painted its logo on the side of one of the barns with the words “We’ll be back”.
An undetermined number of mink were run over by vehicles on U.S. 127 near Lion Farms.
Hunters had their pick of the remaining mink.
The mink escape was considered a danger to the ecosystem in the area and some of the mink had reportedly attacked livestock..
The
Department of Homeland Security and FBI both consider ALF a domestic
terror organization, and the incident itself is currently being
investigated by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.