450 mink released in Minnesota, wave of fur farm raids continues

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Unprecedented wave of mink liberations continues with a fur farm hit in Grand Meadow, Minnesota.

In what is now the 9th fur farm raid in just over three months, nearly 500 mink were set free from a small mink farm in Grand Meadow, Minnesota. Details are sparse, but sometime Sunday night approximately half of the farm’s reported stock of 1,000 mink were set free.

The fur farm targeted was:

Myhre Mink Ranch
75562 State Highway 16
Grand Meadow, MN 55936
Phone: (507) 754-5334
Owner: Einar Myhre

Farms being raided across the country

The US fur farming industry is under a total siege right now, with farms being raided across the country.

Friday night, 2,000 mink were set free from Bonlander Furs in New Holstein, Wisconsin. In the weeks prior, additional animals have been set free from fur farms in Idaho, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Montana, and Utah.

Most raids not claimed by the Animal Liberation Front

The Animal Liberation Front has take credit for three of the actions, while the rest have gone either unclaimed, or were claimed without naming a group affiliation.

Farms that existed in secret now being targeted

Farms that have operated in secret for sometimes decades are being raided in these latest overnight actions. Seven of the nine farms in this surge have had their addresses made public only in the past two years.

Multiple groups at work

In the past fur industry spokespersons have attempted to downplay raids happening in quick succession by claiming they were the work of a single group on an “eco-terrorist road trip.” They will have a hard time conforming that story to what we’re seeing now: mink releases happening across the country, with a geographical range that would make it extremely unlikely this is the work of a single cell.

Fur industry fails to secure its farms

While the Fur Commission USA has shifted its focus from public relations to “farm security,” it has totally failed at this task. Week after week, the Animal Liberation Front has entered farms, released animals, and gotten out without a single arrest this summer.

The most exciting ALF offensive in many years is underway. With pelting season still two months away, this campaign may not even be close to finished.

2,000 mink released in Wisconsin, latest in major ALF campaign

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The eighth US fur farm raid since July sees 2,000 mink freed from a farm in New Holstein, Wisconsin.

Early Saturday, a driver called police to report mink on the road near Bonlander Furs, a mink farm in New Holstein, Wisconsin. Cages had been opened and 2,000 of the farm’s reported 5,000 mink had been released.

The farm’s owner describes the activist’s methods:

“Whoever did it wrecked some of the latches on the cages, the wires were bent way over and some of the boxes were thrown out on the ground.”

This marks the 100th (known) release of animals from a fur farm since the Animal Liberation Front officially began it’s fur farm campaign in 1995 (a single release of foxes was reported in Oregon in 1986, before this tactic was widespread).

The farm makes the unlikely claim that 1500 of the mink have been recaptured as of Saturday evening.

The ALF targeting newly-discovered farms

The ALF appears to be targeting newly discovered farms, with six of the eight farms visited this summer having been made public in the last two years.

The address for Bonlander Furs was first made public in 2012, after a list of 60 previously unknown fur farms surfaced. Sites like Coalition Against Fur Farms and Final Nail track changes in the fur industry, including posting addresses of farms as they become known.

Liberators return to the largest fur farming state

Wisconsin is largest fur farming state in the US, killing over 1 million mink annually. This raid is the first release of animals in the state in nearly 15 years.

The last recorded fur farm rescue occurred in 1999, when the Animal Liberation Front released 2,500 mink from the Gene Meyer mink farm in Plymouth, Wisconsin. The same night, United Feeds – a major feed supplier located just up the road – was burned down. After the raid, Gene Meyer announced the raid had shut down his operation. (Anonymous activists confirmed this claim in a visit to the farm in 2009.)

Major siege underway

Eight fur farms have been hit and over 10,000 animals released since July – a level of activity not seen since the late-90s.

If this momentum is maintained, it could threaten the very existence of the US fur industry and finish it off forever.

 

Fur farm siege continues: Mink released in Ohio

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In yet another raid, the Animal Liberation Front releases up to 300 mink in Ohio.

In a communique received by Bite Back, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for it’s 7th US fur farm release in two months. In the latest action, 150 to 300 mink were freed from Lion Farms, 2707 Hoaglin Road in Van Wert, Ohio on September 29th.

Brand new farm targeted

Lion Farms was under construction as recently as December, and is the newest fur farm known in the US. It is so new, it is not reflected on any satellite images available online.

The Coalition Against Fur Farms reports the location of this farm was revealed by a tipster in early 2013, who provided the address while it was under construction.

European farmer attempting to enter the US market

Lion Farms is a company form Holland, that appear to be opening new fur farms in the US. Two farms owned by the company are known presently: The farm in Van Wert, Ohio; and another in Nottingham, Indiana.

The company has hit some speed bumps in its attempt to open fur farms in the US. In addition to this latest ALF raid, the other farm owned by Lion Farms went up in flames in May, 2012. In that incident a barn caught on fire, apparently while the farm was under construction.

The full communique reads:

“9/29/2013

150-300 mink released from cages and dozens of breeding cards destroyed at the massive mink farm owned by Lion Farms, 2707 Hoaglin Road in Van Wert, Ohio. This facility confines tens of thousands of animals, making it one of the largest mink farms in the United States. Time constraints prevented us from doing more.

Mink are wild animals native to North America. The fur industry’s lies are transparent. Mink are fiercely territorial carnivores and will have no problem hunting and surviving in the wild. Any wildlife biologist knows this.

‘The souls of the tortured dead cry out for justice. The cry of the living is for freedom. We can create that justice. We can deliver that freedom. The animals have no one but us. We will not fail them’

A.L.F.”

Hundreds of mink released from Pennsylvania fur farm

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Animal Liberation Front takes credit for opening “hundreds’ of cages in Pennsylvania.

In the sixth fur farm raid in two months, the Animal Liberation front has taken credit for releasing hundreds of mink from the farm owned by George Rykola in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.

This is the first fur farm raid in Pennsylvania since 2002.

Breeding records destroyed

The communique (posted below) confirms the Animal Liberation Front once again targeted breeding records as well as releasing animals, destroying “hundreds” of breeding cards.

This is one trend of note: recent raids have indicated the ALF is becoming more consistent about destroying breeding records, a move which can devalue a farm’s most valuable asset (its breeding stock) and inflict a devastating financial blow.

The ALF delivers a message to all activists

In ALF communiques going back decades, one message has been repeated consistently: There is no special skills or tools required to save animals from captivity and death, just a willingness to help them that supersedes fear.

In the latest communique, the Animal Liberation Front stated:

We want to reiterate, as several recent ALF communiques have, the ease of animal liberation. We possess no specialized skill set or expensive tools. A sense of determination and a desire for justice go a long way.

The siege continues

With six raids in two months, the Animal Liberation Front continues its fur farm campaign with the most intense energy seen since 1998.

The communique

“Last night, the Animal Liberation Front opened hundreds of cages at the Rykola mink farm located at 557 Colver Road in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.

We lost count of the number of wild animals freed into their natural environment, due to the animals being housed in atrocious  conditions, four to tiny cob-webbed cages. Words can not describe the filth and blinding stench of this farm.

As expected, the animals wasted no time escaping from their barren prisons into the natural world.

In addition to opening cages, we destroyed hundreds of breeding cards, many with notations of price, which ran from $1,000 up to $10,000 per animal.

We want to reiterate, as several recent ALF communiques have, the ease of animal liberation. We possess no specialized skill set or expensive tools. A sense of determination and a desire for justice go a long way.

Pelting season is just weeks away. Look up The Final Nail and find a farm near you. Let the final stage of Operation Bite Back commence. We can destroy this industry that has destroyed so many.”

Claim of responsibility for Utah mink farm raid

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Anonymous activist takes credit for releasing 20 mink in Utah.

In a communique received this week by Bite Back, an anonymous activist took credit for the release of 20 mink and the destruction of breeding records in Utah. On September 13th, the farm of Harold Ovard (Wanship, UT) was entered, breeding records were destroyed, and cages were opened.

The communique indicated the raid was carried out by a single person acting alone.

Location of the farm revealed

After police and the fur industry refused to name the farm,  citing concerns of “retaliation”, this communique (posted below) reveals the farm:

Ovard Mink Farm
1715 SW Hoytsville Road
Wanship, UT 84017

The irony

Police speculate the small number of animals released (20) was due to the raid being interrupted by a feed delivery truck from the Utah Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Cooperative (FBAC).

In an unlikely coincidence, the Ovard mink farm is the same farm that a driver for the FBAC gave a stranger a tour of in 2009, not knowing the person was an animal rights activist working undercover. Photos taken in this tour were published in The Blueprint fur farm list in 2010, showing mink in small wire cages, and other features of the farm.

The communique

“THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH WAS AN UNLUCKY ONE FOR HAROLD OVARD AS HE AWOKE TO HIS BLOODY BUSINESS HAVING BEEN RAIDED BY A MINK LIBERATION BRIGADE WARRIOR.

BREEDING RECORDS DESTROYED, 20 MINK LIBERATED FROM A HELL OF HUMANITY’S MAKING.

FOR T, K, AND ALL PRISONERS OF THIS WAR.

LIBERATE!

– ANONYMOUS”

List of fur farms raided by the ALF that have closed

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A list of all fur farms known to have closed subsequent to visits by the Animal Liberation Front.

Here is what this list is not: A list of fur farms the ALF has shut down.

What this is: A list of fur farms confirmed to have closed, and were once visited by the Animal Liberation Front.

The evidence strongly suggests the majority of these farms shut down for reasons other than a visit by animal liberators (although in each case, the ALF may have been a contributing factor). The majority of these farms shut down years after an ALF visit, or the number of animals released was so small it is unlikely to have bankrupted the farm.

However, there are farms that are confirmed to have been shut down by activists. When the evidence is strong, or conclusive, the entries are bolded. Some of the evidence used to confirm the ALF had a leading role in a closure include:

• Court documents
• Timing of the closure (coming shortly after a visit by the Animal Liberation Front)
• Media reports

List of closed fur farms once visited by the Animal Liberation Front

August 13th, 1995
Davidson Fur Farm
Annendale, Minnesota
One coyote liberated
CLOSED

November 16th, 1995
Jordan Mink Ranch
Olympia, Washington
400 mink liberated
CLOSED

November 16th, 1995
Ma Ellis Fox Farm
Pleasant View, Tenessee
30 foxes liberated
CLOSED

April 4th, 1996, & October 29th, 1996
W. Bennet Fur Farm
Victor, New York
1,700 mink released, 46 foxes released, respectively.
CLOSED

Five raids over five years
Brainard Fur Farm
Snohomish, Washington
100+ mink released, total.
CLOSED

Three releases: June 7th, 1996, July 29th, 1998, & July 30th, 1998
Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Cooperative
Sandy, Utah
75, 6, and 2 mink liberated respectively
CLOSED DUE TO ACCIDENTAL FIRE, 2011. MAY REOPEN.

July 4th, 1996
Latzig Mink Ranch
Howard Lake, Minnesota
1,000 mink liberated
CLOSED. NOW A FERRET FARM.

August 9th, 1996
Carmel Mink Ranch
Hinsdale, Massachusettes
1,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

October 5th, 1996
Gauthier Fur Farm
Lindboro, New Hampshire
35 fox and 10 mink liberated
CLOSED

May 11th, 1997
Parson’s Mink Ranch
Salisbury, Maryland
500 mink liberated
CLOSED

July 4th, 1997
David Smith Mink Farm
Cle Elum, Washington
4,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

July 8th, 1997
Tom Mohoric Mink Farm
Medina, Ohio
41 mink liberated
CLOSED

September 1st, 1997
Ides Mink Farm
Downers Grove, Illinois
3500 mink liberated
CLOSED

October 17th, 1997
Turbak Mink Ranch
Watertown, South Dakota
3,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

Ocotber 25th, 1997
Jack Dittrich Minkery
Medford, Wisconsin
3,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

November 5th, 1997
Blaine Leffers Fox Farm
Fort Wayne, Indiana
125 fox liberated
CLOSED

November 28th, 1997
Carmel Mink Ranch
Hinsdale, Massachusettes
6 mink liberated
CLOSED

August 18th, 1998
Mueller fur farm
Kimball, Minnesota
4,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

August 20th, 1998
(the farmer mentions two actions have occurred, only one action is known)
Hidden Valley Fur Farm
Guttenburg, Iowa
330 foxes liberated
CLOSED

August 27th, 1998
Brown Mink Farm
Beloit, Wisconsin
3,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

February 13, 1999
Davidson Fur Farm
Annendale, Minnesota
6 fox liberated
CLOSED

August 8th, 1999
Gene Meyer Mink Farm
Plymouth, Wisconsin
2,500 mink liberated
(nearby United Feeds fur feed supplier burned down the same night)
CLOSED

August 14th, 1999
Frank Parsons Mink Ranch
Salisbury, Maryland
20 mink liberated
CLOSED

September 12th, 1999; & October 25th, 1999
Calvin Gunnink Fur Farm
Chandler, Minnesota
100 fox liberated, 5 lynx liberated, respectively.
CLOSED

June 14th, 2000
Richard Gauthier Fur Farm
Lyndeborough, New Hamsphire
500 mink liberated
CLOSED

September 7th, 2000
Drewelow & Sons Fur Farm
New Hampton, Iowa
14,000 mink liberated
REPORTED CLOSED BY MEDIA, JUNE 2013. UNCONFIRMED.

Two raids in one week, October, 2001
Scott Nelson Mink Ranch
Ellsworth, Iowa
2,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

September, 2002
Main Mink Ranch
Gerry, New York
Mink liberated and breeding cards taken
CLOSED

August 14th, 2007
Carmel Mink Ranch
Hinsdale, Massachusettes
500 mink liberated
CLOSED

September 8th, 2008
S&N Fur Farm
Scio, Oregon
150-200 mink liberated
REPORTED EMPTY 2009, MAY REOPEN

October 17th, 2008 & October 4th, 2009
Ylipelto Fur Farm
Svensen, Oregon
1,500 mink and 300 mink liberated, respectively
CLOSED

After being freed from a slaughterhouse, 10 cows remain free

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Ten cows go uncaptured after the ALF freed them from a Michigan slaughterhouse.

On August 26th, 15 cows were freed from a slaughterhouse in North Branch, Michigan.

It was among the more unusual actions ever claimed by the Animal Liberation Front – so unusual I didn’t cover it here. Like most, I felt freeing domesticated animals into the streets to fend for themselves was of no benefit to the cows, save for perhaps a few hours of relative freedom before being rounded up.

I was wrong.

Days after the the 15 cows were released, 10 remain free. There have been numerous sightings, but by the time police arrive the animals have vanished. Some of the cows have been spotted several miles away, and they may have entered a nearby 9,000-acre state wildlife area.

Stay free.

******

The Animal Liberation Front communique reads:

“In the early morning of August 26th two ALF members traveled three hours to a small town called North Branch, MI to vandalize and liberate a family slaughterhouse called ‘Mcnee’s Meats’ -years prior the beef they sold was even tested positive for E. Coli. One member glued the ignition to the transport truck and the lock to the front door as well as sprayed painted ‘Meat is Murder’ on the front of the building. The other member freed fifteen enslaved cows from being slaughtered, broke the lighting fixtures, and smashed holding cages for chickens (cows being the only animals present).”

 

 

Home of Wisconsin fur auction executive flooded by the ALF

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VP at North American Fur Auctions has his house sabotaged.

This week, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for “completely flooding” the home of an executive at North American Fur Auctions. According to the communique received by Bite Back, Vice President for “wild fur” Brian MacMillan had a running garden hose inserted in his window Sunday morning. The extent of the damage is not known.

NAFA: A significant target

North American Fur Auctions (NAFA) operates the largest fur auction house in North America, located in Toronto. It also operates a major fur grading and processing facility in the Stoughton, Wisconsin; processing the majority of pelts from US fur farms. The operation is in an unassuming building along railroad tracks in an industrial park, giving no indication of its significance to the US fur industry.

In addition to animals from fur farms, North American Fur Auctions sells millions of “wild fur” pelts, i.e. animals trapped in the wild. In 2011, it sold 5.3 million mink alone. Other wild-caught animal pelts they sell include beaver, bobcat, lynx, coyote, and many more. The target of this latest ALF action was the head of the trapped animal division.

Last year, the re-launched Coalition Against Fur Farms posted a list of other key employees at the company.

 Foreshadowing: NAFA speaks out on the ALF last month

The company recently found itself the subject of a newspaper article in Wisconsin, after the ALF released the latest edition of The Final Nail, which included the address for the NAFA plant in Stoughton. When asked about the threat to its business posed by the ALF, a NAFA spokesperson said:

“[Animal Liberation Front actions are] something that you have to be vigilant about… The Animal Liberation Front are extremists. Their whole purpose in life is to destroy the industry. They encourage criminal acts. They encourage people to break into farms.”

At that time, the company had never been targeted by the ALF. They have now.

The full Animal Liberation Front communique reads, in full:

“Around 7:00am on August 26, a cell of the Animal Liberation Front entered the back yard of Brian L. MacMillan, 1245 Mockingbird Lane in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Brian is the Vice President of Wild Fur Operations at North American Fur Auctions, the largest fur auction house in North America. Brian is a terrorist who deals in the skins of wild animals tortured and killed in steel-jaw leghold traps. The counter-terrorists of the Animal Liberation Front broke his double paned window, and inserted his own garden hose; completely flooding his home.

Most people would be amazed at the sight of a bobcat, a creature so majestic and free. Brian’s empty heart sees only profit.

There is no doubt Brian and NAFA will attempt to portray themselves as victims. They have the audacity to call us terrorists, when every penny they have made is at the torture and subjugation of what is wild and free. All who contribute to industries of earth and animal destruction shall take note. There is a higher law.

Animal Liberation Front”

Pens cut open, birds released in Oregon

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In yet another action in a busy summer, the Animal Liberation Front cuts open pens and releases five birds in Oregon.

In a communique received by Bite Back, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for cutting into two pens and releasing five wild birds near Corvallis, Oregon. The birds were held by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife as part of an exhibition at a state wildlife area. The birds released were 3 ringnecked pheasants, 1 white pheasant, and 1 mountain quail.

An ODF&W spokeswoman confirmed that someone did cut two cages and released birds from E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. According to police, no birds left their pens and all five remain imprisoned at the exhibition.  (Its worth noting that in nearly every instance of an illegal animal rescue, the “victims” have attempted to downplay the success of the action.)

An attempt was made to free more birds from two additional pens. According to the ALF’s communique (posted below), this effort was aborted when a car arrived on the scene, forcing a premature departure.

Damage to property is estimated at $50.

Wildlife farms are the new fur farms

A small surge in wildlife farm raids has been seen the past two years, in ways reminiscent of fur farm raids in the mid-1990s (although not by number of actions). As with fur farms in the 90s, today we are seeing an emerging awareness that there are thousands of farms imprisoning animals that can be liberated directly into the wild.

According to the Wildlife Farm Database, thousands of these farms imprison animals including elk, woodchucks, bobcats, squirrels, ferrets, deer, pheasants, and many more species.

The ease of raiding wildlife farms was highlighted in this quote from the ALF’s communique:

“There are over 100 registered captive wildlife facilities in the state of Oregon that imprison pheasants, quail, mink, elk and other wild animals. These facilities generally contain little to no security, require little to no specialized skill set to raid, and hold animals which in many cases can be directly liberated into the wild. All it takes is a little determination and a $15 pair of bolt cutters to make animal liberation a reality.”

The communique

The Animal Liberation Front’s communique reads, in full:

“On the night of August 15th the masked liberators of the Animal Liberation Front carried out the rescue of wild pheasants and quail from the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife game bird exhibition pens at the EE Wilson wildlife area (north of Corvallis). Wire cutting tools were used to completely cut open 2 of the game bird pens and partially cut open 2 others giving 3 ringnecked pheasants, 1 white pheasant, and 1 mountain quail a chance to escape into the surrounding wildlife area. If it wasn’t for a car pulling into a lot next the pens, forcing us to make a premature departure, the rest of the dozen or so birds would have been
given a chance at freedom as well. This action is no victory for those left behind.

The EE Wilson wildlife area was once home to an ODFW breeding program that bred pheasants mainly to be released to repopulate state hunting grounds. The ODFW discontinued this program in the late 1990’s, however they still keep a small number of birds on this site as a tourist attraction. It is sad and pathetic that these wild birds would have to spend their entire lives in a cage for any reason, let alone for something as trivial and frivolous as being put on display for the public.

There are over 100 registered captive wildlife facilities in the state of Oregon that imprison pheasants, quail, mink, elk and other wild animals. These facilities generally contain little to no security, require little to no specialized skill set to raid, and hold animals which in many cases can be directly liberated into the wild. All it takes is a little determination and a $15 pair of bolt cutters to make animal liberation a reality.

In solidarity with anarchist prisoners Marie Mason and Eric Mcdavid. For the silent ones and all those on the run.

For freedom and dignity,
Animal Liberation Front”

 

Victory: After ALF visit, farmers say they are out of the pheasant business

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After a visit from the Animal Liberation Front, a “game breeder” farm says they will no longer sell pheasants. 

Last week, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for releasing dozens of pheasants from the Ash Grove Pheasant Farm in Riverside California. Now the owners have announced they are out of the pheasant-breeding business altogether.

Co-owner Theresa Fitzgerald told the media this week that she will keep any recaptured birds as “pets”, but will no longer sell pheasants. While the information is unconfirmed, it would appear the ALF effectively shut down the Ash Grove Pheasant Farm.

The importance of fact-checking

It is not uncommon for animal businesses to feed disinformation to the public to avoid being a target. There have been confirmed cases of this, such as fur farms making false claims of closure to remove themselves from the public’s radar, and animal researchers announcing the end to protocols that in fact continue using less “cute” animals (e.g. replacing dogs with pigs).

There are only two ways to confirm with a high-degree of likelihood that this farm is in fact out of the pheasant-breeding business:

• An unannounced, on-site visit to the farm
• The farm being removed from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife “Game Breeder” list. (The owners believe the Animal Liberation Front obtained their address from this list.)

As to the former, this kind of visit will likely only happen if the ALF returns, or other anonymous individuals visit the farm covertly for data-gathering purposes.

And the latter will only be verified when the state of California releases its 2014 list next year.

A (tentative) victory

As for now, it appears the ALF shut down the Ash Grove Pheasant Farm.

ALF Releases Pheasants From California Game Farm

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Animal Liberation Front cuts fencing and frees birds from pheasant farm near Los Angeles.

In a communique received by Bite Back, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for a raid on a pheasant farm in Riverside, California, on the night of July 22nd. Four of the six pens at the operation were cut open, allowing the birds to escape.

According to documents posted at the Wildlife Farm Database (“Directory of captive wildlife operations for activists”), the Ash Grove pheasant farm is one of just over 60 farms in California that breed “game birds,” including quail and partridges.

This is the third raid of a pheasant farm in the last 18 months. In March 2012, the Animal Liberation Front released 70 to 100 birds from a farm in Oregon. Several months later, the ALF released “dozens” of pheasants from another Oregon farm.

It is likely these types of raids on wildlife farms will continue to build in popularity. As with mink farms, once the word is out that there are farms holding captive wildlife that can be released directly into the wild without the burden of having to find homes, such farms will become very appetizing targets for those who work outside the law.

The ease of raiding wildlife farms was expressed in this excerpt from the ALF’s communique:

“Their victims can be immediately released, with no rehoming necessary. This life saving action took no specialized skill, less than twenty-four hours of planning, and fifty dollars. With basic tools and determination, anyone is capable of destroying the barrier that stands between an animal and their freedoms.”

Thousands of farms operation nationwide, imprisoning species such as native cottontail rabbits, turtles, coyotes, squirrels, and hundreds of other wildlife species.

The full ALF communique reads:

“On the night of July 22, the masked rescuers of the Animal Liberation Front entered the Ash Grove Pheasant Farm at 10540 Victoria Avenue in Riverside, California. As the farmer slept just feet away, the fencing was torn open with wire cutters. Four of the six pens on the property were breached, giving these beautiful beings a chance at freedom.

Wildlife farms are everywhere. Their victims can be immediately released, with no rehoming necessary. This life saving action took no specialized skill, less than twenty-four hours of planning, and fifty dollars. With basic tools and determination, anyone is capable of destroying the barrier that stands between an animal and their freedoms.

Stop fraternizing about it. Stop fantasizing about it. Stop frightening yourself out of it. You know you want to – just do it. Wild non-humyns await their release from prisons in your neighborhoods.

‘For only a fool would cling to this world as it is,’

A.L.F.”

New ALF guide puts fur farmers on alert

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A how-to guide on raiding farms, The Final Nail #4 receives national news coverage as fur farmers react.

In June, the Animal Liberation Front announced the release of the new Final Nail, the anonymously-authored guide to raiding fur farms. This fourth volume of the publication contains the standby Final Nail material (fur farm addresses + how-to instruction), as well new info not seen in previous editions.

The Final Nail #4, which has been posted numerous places online, includes:

• State-by-state directory of mink, fox, and bobcat farms
• A guide to security on fur farms
• How to avoid getting caught
• Fur farm photos
• A recent history of fur farm raids
• A “most wanted” list of important targets
• An analysis of weak links in the US fur industry
• A history of “the fur farm list”

A guide that inspires action – every time

Upon their release, each of the past three volumes of The Final Nail have set off a wave of fur farm raids. The first edition in 1996 saw 16 ALF raids in the six months after publication. Prior to it’s release, there had only been five in U.S. history.

The last edition- The Final Nail #3 – saw limited circulation, and enjoyed only a brief appearance online before seemingly vanishing into a print-only version, which would occasionally be seen distributed at animal rights events. Much of the content from #3 is retained in #4, along with a significant amount of new material.

The media picks up the story

What made the release of this Final Nail different was the media attention. At least six media outlets picked up the story nationwide, covering the release of the guide and the response from fur farmers.

The takeaway from the articles in total is that fur farmers are very concerned about the fourth Final Nail, because they know what has followed the release of the last three: a wave of farm break-ins.

The most recent article, from a Stoughton, Wisconsin newspaper, focuses on the local North American Fur Auctions pelt processing plant being named on the ALF’s “most wanted” list.

Nancy Daigneault, director of communication for NAFA in Toronto, said the company takes the ALF’s threat seriously.

“It’s something that you have to be vigilant about,” Daigneault told the Hub in a telephone interview. “The Animal Liberation Front are extremists. Their whole purpose in life is to destroy the industry. They encourage criminal acts. They encourage people to break into farms.”

A Caldwell, Idaho newspaper published a follow-up on a fur business that was set on fire by the ALF in 2011, and mentions the recent release of The Final Nail #4.

Another Idaho paper also ran a story, mentioning the listing of Idaho State University fur farm industry researcher Jack Rose:

“In addition to local fur farms, the hit list includes Jack Rose, a physiology professor at Idaho State University. Rose occasionally conducts medical research on minks at his lab at the university’s Department of Biological Sciences in Pocatello.

The Final Nail is not new, Rose noted. “It’s been a problem for many years.”

He said he hadn’t known he was listed in the new directory of targets. But shutting down animal lab research would “set medicine back 100 years.”

The largest news site in Utah (which is the second-largest mink farming state), KSL.com, ran this story: “Animal rights group releases anti-fur guide, threatens Utah farms.” The site described the finer points of The Final Nail:

“In addition to the list of addresses and contact information, the group’s publication provides detailed descriptions and photographs of fur farm locations, a “most wanted” list, as well as a guide on “How to Raid a Fur Farm.” It describes what equipment to bring, where to park, and how to avoid getting caught.”

The paper for a past Animal Liberation Front target – Washington State University – ran this story (PDF) on the new Final Nail, claiming the university no longer has mink “on campus.” It is unclear if the mink are held off campus, if the university has stopped fur industry research altogether, or if the statement is simply a lie to deter future raids.

Six mink, seven coyotes, and ten mice were liberated from the research farm in 1991.

A local TV station in Utah ran a report, which showed a reporter waving a copy of The Final Nail #4 in front of the Provo skyline, and warning viewers of the threat posed by a guide that instructed activists on how to destroy Utah’s fur industry. The story also featured an interview with a local fur farmer, who would no identify himself. Unfortunately, the video of the story is no longer posted on the KUTV website (please send a copy to Animal Liberation Frontline if you have one).

The calm before the storm?

The ALF’s statement on it’s new Final Nail read, in part:

“June 1st has come to be known as the launch of ‘fur farm raiding season”, when mink born on fur farms begin to reach maturity and can be released into the wild. The authors intend this latest Final Nail to set off fur farm raiding season by inspiring a new wave of liberations.”

The past two years have been the lowest in ALF fur farm-related activity since the mid-1990s, with only one fur farm liberation taking place in the last 12 months (the release of 12 foxes from a farm in Virginia).

As of this writing, it’s wait-and-see as to whether The Final Nail #4 continues its tradition of inspiring another wave of fur farm raids.