The ARA did this type of thing in Scotland years ago and the mink that survived thrived and became an environmental disaster to small birds and mammals that were unprepared for mink infestations. Yet the ARA blames the Mink ranchers of Scotland for allowing excess mink to escape even though the ARA released those mink.

Politiken (Denmark)
Another mink farm attacked
For the second time this week, activists have released thousands of
mink from a farm.
Edited by Julian Isherwood
9. okt 2009
http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/article806216.ece

Animal activists have attacked a mink farm in Jutland for the second
time this week, releasing some 3,000 animals into the environment.

Mink fodder delivery personnel discovered the release at the farm near
Klosterhede Plantation in Western Jutland and raised the alarm. Mink
farmers and hunters from the area were called in to catch or shoot
escaped mink.

Police said that apart from opening mink cages, perpetrators had also
torn down parts of a fence surrounding mink cages, seemingly to allow
the mink to escape into the surrounding environment.

The attack bore a remarkable similarity to an attack on another farm
in Jutland on Tuesday night, when 6,000 mink were released into the
surrounding area.

In what appears to be an action related to Friday’s and Tuesday’s
incidents, a driver from the Holstebro Minkfodercentral discovered a
tap to a silo containing five tons of mink fodder had been opened this
morning. Personnel at the fodder supplier saw a man running away from
the silo and making his getaway in a nearby vehicle.

Politiken (Denmark)
6,000 mink released
Activists are thought to have been responsible for the release of 6,000 mink.
7. okt 2009
http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/article804693.ece

Some 6,000 mink were released from a mink farm near Søndervig in
Western Jutland overnight, and although most may be caught again, half
of the animals will probably have to be put down.

The mink were released from their cages overnight and a fence
surrounding the farm was torn down in order that the mink could escape
into the environment.

”There were mink everywhere when we got there,” the duty police officer says.

Catching animals

Between 50 and 60 mink farmers and hunters are currently attempting to
catch the mink, but some 3,000 of the animals may now have to be put
down.

”How many will have to be put down is up to the vet on the spot, but I
would imagine that about half of them will have to be put down,” says
Sander Jacobsen of the Danish Fur Breeder Association.

”At this time of year, male and female mink are paired in individual
cages, but since once released into the open the pairs cannot be
re-established, animals would become highly aggressive towards one
another and attack each other,” Jacobsen says.

With only some 3,000 cages on the farm, there is only space for half
of those released to be put back into individual cages.

Ecological disaster

Jacobsen adds that the release of the animals can be an ecological
disaster for the area.

”The mink will try to survive and simply vacuum the area of all
amphibians and small birds, and since they are not very good at
surviving in this way for longer periods, they will die,” Jacobsen
says.

The Danish Forest and Nature Agency also condemned the action.

”This type of crime is frustrating and silly. The mink are the ones
that suffer, but it also affects the balance in the surrounding
environment. We will be doing all that we can in the coming days to
catch or shoot all the mink that have been released,” Danish Forest
and Nature Agency Game Consultant Jens Henrik Jakobsen says.

Television programme

Sander Jacobsen suggests that Wednesday’s action may be an attempt by
activists to draw attention to mink farming in connection with a
programme on farming for fur that TV2 and Operation X are currently
working on.

”(The programme) will be using, among other things, material including
secret video film that TV2 has received from an outside source,”
Jacobsen says.

”This resembles an orchestrated campaign in which extremists will stop
at nothing to get as much media coverage as possible in a carefully
devised plan,” Jacobsen concludes.

The ARA brag about their closing down a legitimate business because of their vandalism.



Bite Back Magazine
1000 MINK RELEASED FROM CAGES, FARM WILL CLOSE!
October 8, 2009 - Sweden
http://www.vandals.info/news_oct08_09.htm

Media has reported that approximately 1,000 mink were released from
cages at a farm in Eksjo, Sweden early on October 5.
Water pipes and equipment at the farm were also damaged. It was the
fourth time that the farm had been targeted, most recently in April.

The farmer has announced that the farm will close

NOTE: The following article suggests a ban on fur farming has already
been passed in Ireland. In actuality, it refers to a commitment by
the Green Party - a member in the coalition government - to phase out
fur farming by enacting the Animal Health and Welfare Bill. For a
first-hand version of the Green Party's latest "Programme for
Government", see here: http://www.greenparty.ie/

ANIMAL WELFARE GROUPS WELCOME BAN ON FUR FARMING

Irish Times, Monday, October 12, 2009

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/1012/1224256435882.html

Animal welfare and rights groups have welcomed the Green Party
Programme for Government as a victory for animals here, particularly
the ending of fur farming in three years.

Caft Ireland (Coalition to abolish the fur trade) said it was
"absolutely thrilled" its greatest goal had been achieved by the
Green Party and it would now turn its attention to banning fur
imports.

Bernie Wright of the Alliance for Animal Rights said it was the best
day in 20 years in the campaign for animals.

She said the banning of fur farming, the ending of stag hunting after
March next year, the ending of badger culling when a vaccine against
bovine TB was found and promised new animal welfare legislation, was
a major victory.

"Thank you Green Party and thank you John Gormley," she said in a statement.

Compassion in World Farming said the ban on fur farming was a major
step forward for animal welfare standards in the Republic of Ireland.

"We congratulate the Green Party on its commitment to improving the
protection of animals.

The ban on fur farming will send out a strong message to the world
that Ireland takes farm animal welfare very seriously," said
Mary-Anne Bartlett, director of the organisation here.

Wouldn't it be a good thing if fur farms were banned, making the prices of wild furs rise due to less supply?

I'm not saying that the way things are being done over there is right but it seems those farmers don't mind hogging the fur market and nearly putting us trappers, who were here first, outta business.

It would never be right to wish that a min k farmer would be put out of bussiness by anything. Never wish bad luck on a brother fur handler. We all have a right to be in this bussiness.

Both wise & fair of you to understand that point Don. We should be supporting each other and not shunning each other.