Carnism

More than 30,000 minks freed, carnists upset

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Doomed to a life of imprisonment and a cruel death, animal rights activists have freed thousands of minks in Minnestoa, USA

County officials are worried about the risk of injury, the 30,000 freed minks might pose "to humans and animals alike" and that "the sudden introduction of the mink poses a threat to plant life in the area" reports the Daily News.

â€œThese nitwits think they are doing something good,â€ Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmundson said Monday to the Star Tribune, referring to the animal rights advocates thought to have released these "prized fur bearing creatures".

Feigning concern for the minks, the sheriff went on to say that â€œsome of the mink are dying from the stress or something else, we donâ€™t know.â€ â€œA large number will starve to death. They werenâ€™t taught to hunt by their mother. Others will get run over on the road.â€ â€œThe mink donâ€™t know where to go. Theyâ€™ve never been out of their cages.â€

Minks are raised on fur farms only to be killed so their pelts can be worn by carnists as a fashion trophy.

There are approximately 275 mink farms in 23 states across the USA which "produce about 3 million pelts annually" reports the Fur Commission USA, an organization advocating for US mink farmers. They claim that "great care is given to the Animals' health" and that mink farming is a 'family affair' where life "revolves around the natural reproductive cycles of the animalsâ€.

Lang Farms estimates the loss of the 30,000 to 40,000 minks will cost them $750,000. They had a â€œnumber of people out there with nets, capturing some of them,â€ Gudmundson said mid afternoon Monday, but admitted to the Daily News that minks "can travel for miles and miles and miles.â€

Given the option of freedom â€“with all the risksâ€“ or a life of incarceration, the minks have clearly made their choice. There are no reports of minks willingly returning to their former abode.