Intruders Release About 1,500 Mink at Franklin Farm; About 80 Percent Recovered
Windy Peaks, a mink farm in Franklin, Franklin County, Idaho, was broken into by masked intruders at about 2:35 a.m. on October 17, and around 1,500 mink were released from their cages. An investigation is underway. According to a news release from Fur Commission USA, the farm's security system detected the intruders and prevented further activity, but a large number of mink had already escaped.
Many mink were struck and killed by vehicles on nearby roads, while others died from dehydration, heat exhaustion and exposure, the release said. Farm workers stayed up through the night caring for distressed animals, including providing water by hand to mink struggling to recover. About 100 people from the community, including the mayor and city council members, helped recover the animals, and roadblocks were set up to prevent more mink from being struck. About 80 percent of the released mink were recovered and returned to the farm.
Windy Peaks is a family farm operated by the Hobbs family for four generations. "These animals depend on us for food, water, and care," said farm owner Jeff Hobbs. "What kind of person turns more than a thousand animals loose, knowing they could be run over, starve, or die from dehydration? There is nothing humane about that." His wife, Jill Hobbs, said the community showed up for them on a difficult day and the family is grateful for the support. (GSM, via EastIdahoNews.com)
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：水貂（资料图，非现场实拍）。照片：Wikimedia Commons。A mink (file photo). Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
