Vandals Free 40,000 Minnesota Mink And Now They're Dead

STEARNS COUNTY, MN — Vandals broke into a Minnesota mink farm this week and released between 30,000 to 40,000 mink, most of which later were found dead, the sheriff's office in Stearns County said. The mink deaths likely were the result of a combination of factors, including stress of the release and re-capture, heat, and fighting, authorities said, noting that mink are extremely territorial and aggressive toward other mink.

The mink were owned by Lang Farms LLC, which raises the animals as pets on a farm about two and a half miles northwest of Eden Valley in Stearns County. The farm owners reported the burglary and and vandalism to the sheriff's office on Monday, July 17.

Several people driving by the area called the owner of the farm, Dan Lang, and told him there were mink running loose on the road. Sometime between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. unknown person or persons entered the property, according to authorities.

Once on the property, they dismantled areas of the exterior fence that surrounds the barns and released all the mink from their cages. About 30,000-40,000 mink were released.

Authorities say because these mink were domesticated, they will not survive in the wild. The reported value of the loss is estimated at over $750,000.

Over the next few days, Lang, with the help of many friends and neighbors, was able to recapture several thousand mink. Most of the mink have perished, however.

If residents see any mink loose in the area, they are asked not to approach them because they may bite.

Lang Farms LLC has asked residents to call them so they may be recaptured by experienced mink handlers. Call (320) 453- 4750 and leave a message if any mink are sighted in the area. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office notified the Minnesota Duty Officer and our State and Federal Law Enforcement partners.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at (320) 251-4240 or Tri-County Crimestoppers at 1-800-255-1301. Tri-County Crimestoppers has offered a $1,000 reward and Fur Commission USA, a National Trade Association representing the interests of mink farmers, has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

Photo by Akulatraxas via Flickr Commons