2,000 Mink Released from Iowa Farm in Alleged 'Terrorist Act'
An animal welfare advocate notes that mink farms often crowd animals in inhumane cages.
According to JACK DURA, Associated Press, one or more intruders broke into an Iowa mink farm, releasing 2,000 mink in an incident a trade group has labeled a "terrorist act" under federal law.
The incident occurred between Monday night and Tuesday morning, with fencing cut and pens and nest boxes destroyed to release the mink, which are raised for their pelts, as stated by Fur Commission USA.
The farm, located near Woodbine, Iowa, approximately 100 miles west of Des Moines, was the site of the incident.
By Friday morning, just over 60% of the mink had been recovered, although time is running out to find them all before they succumb to threats in the wild, said Fur Commission USA Executive Director Challis Hobbs.
People have attacked mink farms similarly and been charged under the federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, which defines a person as a terrorist if they are trying to impede or ruin an animal operation.
Hobbs noted that the federal Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act has been used to charge individuals who have attacked mink farms in similar incidents.
Author's summary: Mink farm incident releases 2000 animals.