Trespassers blamed for releasing hundreds of mink

[Ian David]

HINSDALE, Mass. -- The owner of a mink farm in the Berkshires is blaming what he calls "anti-fur people" for the release of hundreds of the valuable animals.

Police say the mink were let out of their cages early yesterday morning at Berkshire Furs in Hinsdale. About 300 have yet to be recovered.

Owner Earl Carmel says he's certain animal rights activists were responsible, asking: "Who else would have done it?"

<snip>

Carmel says the farm-raised animals are unlikely to survive more than a few days in the wild.



More:
http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO59764/

[shain from kane]

1. Who stole the mink? And, what fur? n/t

[Donnachaidh]

2. err, and there is NO possibility that he could have flipped the doors open?

I'm cynical when I hear these people *claim* animal activists did something, without some sort of proof. I'd like to see if he's recently upped his insurance policies. :shrug:

[YOY]

3. If they do survive in the wild they might be an invasive species

Just sayin...

[kestrel91316]

5. That's the real problem here - the risk of an introduced species

damaging the balance of power in the local ecosystem.

For more information about exotic and invasive species:
http://www.invasive.org/

[RaleighNCDUer]

7. Presuming they are American mink, that's not a problem --

they are indiginous to all of North America, though some sub-species are restricted in their habitat. Still, being farm-raised, they're not likely to survive long.

[YOY]

8. I thought them a sub-artic species...perhaps that's the Siberian Mink

n/t

[Ian David]

11. I know. PeTA had the same problem when they released 10,000 lobsters into the woods.

No, I just made that one up.

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. LOL

[Lone_Star_Dem]

4. The fur market isn't what it used to be

It's a dwindling industry far from its heyday.

I'm not saying he committed insurance fraud or anything, but if he is insured he stands to come out of this fine, perhaps even better than if he still had the minks in his possession.

[AngryAmish]

6. Who let the mink out!?! Woof, Woof, Woff

[Beelzebud]

9. Nice idea there. Those domesticated animals should survive just fine in the wild.

Not.

Animal activists can be so damn stupid sometimes...

[ComerPerro]

10. no joke

[MazeRat7]

13. Well their chances are better in the wild than if they were on the farm...

Being "on the farm" would be a 0% chance of survival. While domesticated, the odds are greater than 0% that some may survive.

Not stupid at all. Given 2 unacceptable sets of circumstances, the latter is definitely better for the animals than the former.

MZr7

[Hell Hath No Fury]

14. As a person who is not...

necessarily against a little animal "liberation", I do NOT agree with this type of act. Releasing them to the wild is completely irresponsible, both environmentally and in regards to the animals health. If the animals were going to be "liberated", they needed to be taken to a safe location where their care and feeding could be assured.

[Ian David]

15. And now, The Sci-Fi Original Presentation, "Minks," starring Stephen Baldwin and Bruce Boxleitner.nt

[aikoaiko]

16. When I used to do animal research with pigeons....

...every semester someone would break into the aviary and free the flock of pigeons. I'd arrive the next morning, block open the aviary door, and leave some food in the aviary. By the next morning the flock was back inside waiting to be fed.

Silly vandals.