compiled by Dennis Dalman
editor@thenewsleaders.com
As many as 40,000 mink were released sometime July 16 or 17 by a vandal or vandals at a mink farm near Eden Valley in Stearns County. Eden Valley is located on the southern border of Stearns County right next to Meeker County.
At 5:36 a.m., the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department responded to a burglary/vandalism call from Lang Farms LLC, 2.5 miles northwest of Eden Valley. The incident occurred sometime between 10:30 p.m. Sunday, July 16 and 5:30 a.m. Monday, July 17.
The perpetrator(s) dismantled areas of the exterior fence surrounding the mink barns and then released all of the minks from their cages. An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 of the animals were released, according to the sheriff’s department report. The total value of the mink is estimated at $760,000.
The mink were being raised for their pelts. Mink are semi-aquatic, carnivorous mammals from the Mustelidae family, to which otter and ferrets also belong. They have long been prized and raised for their pelts, which can be fashioned into expensive mink coats and other apparel. A mink weighs about 3.5 pounds and is anywhere from 13-18 inches long.
Because the minks were domesticated, it’s unlikely many will survive in the wild. Some, however, may survive for awhile and run loose in the area. If people see one or more of them, they should report the sightings immediately so trained mink handlers can handle the creatures, which can bite. People who spot a mink should call Lang Farms at 320-453-4750 and leave a message if there is no answer.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has notified the Minnesota Duty Officer and the State and Federal Law Enforcement partners. The release took place adjacent to a wildlife-management area and a wilderness-preservation area. The release of predatory domestic animals will have a negative impact on the surrounding native wildlife population, according to the sheriff’s department report.
Anyone with information about the incident should call the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department at 320-251-4240 or Tri-County Crimestoppers at 1-800-255-1301. Tri-County Crimestoppers offers a reward of up to $1,0000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in criminal matters.
This is a mink, which resembles its cousins – otters and ferrets.
