Animal Liberation Front-Line: ALF and Animal Liberation News and Analysis

More “Security Alerts”: Fur Commission Memos on Five ALF Fur Industry Actions

Peter Young — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:13:18 +0000

The memos fur farmers woke up to the morning after five Animal Liberation Front actions.

Part twenty in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. One article a day will be posted the month of December.

Every time a fur farmer sees a strange vehicle, chases off an intruder, or gets a suspicious phone call, the Fur Commission sends out a “Security Alert” to its members. These alerts are intended to be read by fur farmers only, but several dozen have been obtained by Animal Liberation Frontline.

I’m posting a collection of alerts sent out about the last five Animal Liberation Front actions against the fur industry. While most other alerts document indicators of possible future ALF actions, those here cover actual ALF actions.

For those who follow these actions closely, there are a few pieces of new, inside information embedded throughout: the number of animals not recaptured, a reference to evidence found at a “crime scene,” and other suspicious activity detected around the time of the ALF actions.

The alerts cover these actions in 2011 & 2012:

D&S fox farm liberation
Miller Mink Farm liberation (two alerts)
Palmer Erickson fur farm liberation
Astoria, Oregon fur farm liberation
Rocky Mountain Fur & Fireworks arson

D&S Fox Farm Raid

In this alert, the Fur Commission speculates this fox liberation is related to the nearby Animal Rights Conference 2012, and that myself and others at the conference “incited” others to commit crimes. (Note: I have redacted speculation about the owner of the Coalition Against Fur Farms site.)

“Fur Commission USA
Security Alert OH, PA, IN, IL
August 6, 2012

Early yesterday morning animal rights extremists broke into D&S Fox Farm near Elkton Virginia, and released all 13 silver foxes on the farm. They also claim to have destroyed farm equipment during the raid.

At the time, the National Animal Rights Convention in Alexandria VA was coming to a close, where known “liberationist” and convicted felon Peter Young, among others, were speaking. Young, naive activists likely were incited at the conference to commit crimes against family farms.

On July 16, Coalition Against Fur Farms listed the address and owner of D&S Fox Farm as a “new discovery” on their website. It is generally agreed that the website is owned by [REDACTED].

The attackers may be heading west on the road home from the Conference, so resource providers in OH, IN, IL and possibly Southern PA are urged to be on high alert over the next few days. Please report any unknown vehicles or persons near your facility to Fur Commission USA and your local law enforcement agency.

Distributed by,
Michael Whelan
Fur Commission USA”

Miller Mink Farm alert #1

In this bulletin, the Fur Commission announces the release of 1,100 mink from a farm in northeastern Washington state, and alludes to a connection to a suspicious vehicle seen (presumably) near the Roessler Brothers mink farm near Startup, WA.

“Fur Commission USA
Security Alert –Iowa, Pacific Northwest
October 12, 2011

Early this morning Gina and Mike Miller arose to find that animal rights extremists had broke into their farm in Gifford WA, and released approximately 1,100 mink. The Miller family, with help from their friends and neighbors, are presently re-capturing the animals and the FBI in both Seattle and Spokane have been alerted. More information will be sent as it becomes available.

On Saturday, an older white sedan was seen outside an abandoned pelting shed near Startup WA. A white male, clean cut, approximately 50 years old was spotted taking photos of the shed with a high powered lens. The vehicle was occupied by several other persons. When approached the car sped away. No other information is available.”

Miller Mink Farm alert #2

In this memo, the Fur Commission gives an update and reveals that 100 mink remain free the day after the liberation at Miller Mink Farm.

While the Fur Commission generally claim fur farm raids are the work of one cell traveling the country, after two raids in two days over a thousand miles apart, they are forced to state: “It has become apparent that more than one cell is at work in these attacks.”

“Fur Commission USA
Security Update
October 13, 2011

Status of Farm Raids, Investigations

An anonymous claim of guilt has been posted on the internet regarding the attack on the Miller Mink Farm in Gifford WA. It can be found on www.directaction.info. In light of this we will be posting a press release outlining the recent actions targeting US farms, that will be posted on www.furcommission.com within the next hour. If you are contacted by a reporter, please do not comment, and forward any requests for comment to Fur Commission at 541-595-8568 or mw@furcommission.com. Also, do not let anyone but law enforcement onto your farm.

As of last night, the Millers had recaptured all but about 100 of the 1,100 released mink, and had set traps to try and collect the remaining animals. Agents from the FBI Spokane office were on the scene within hours of the attack

Also as of last night, the two people arrested in the attack on Steve Krege’s farm are still in custody and are being questioned by the FBI. I will send out updates as they become available.

It has become apparent that more than one cell is at work in these attacks. Please be extremely vigilant concerning strangers around your farm. Take photos of vehicles, or persons of interest. Record license plates and physical descriptions. Make sure your neighbors are aware of the recent raids, and that they too are alert to suspicious activity. Contact your local Sheriff’s Dept or PD and let them know what is happening around the country. Sometimes the smallest bit of information from Minnesota can result in the arrest of extremists in Utah.

Activists use satellite imagery (Google Maps) to research entry and exit points on the farms, as well as routes to and from your immediate area. Be aware of any nearby parking areas that are in walking distance to the back of your farm. If possible, hire a night watchman for a couple weeks.

Hopefully, as we harden the targets these attacks will subside and/or the perpetrators will be caught. Please contact Fur Commission with any information you obtain that can help law enforcement keep our farms safe.

Michael Whelan
Fur Commission USA
541-595-8568″

Palmer Erickson mink farm raid

The Fur Commission states here that the fur farm raiders left behind several “incriminating” pieces of evidence, which was collected by the FBI.

This memo also reveals that the raid was discovered in the pre-dawn hours because of a barking dog.

“Fur Commission USA
SECURITY ALERT – Midwest US
October 7, 2011

Mink Release in Iowa

Early this morning animal rights extremists broke into Palmer Erickson’s fur farm in Jewell IA and released approximately 1,600 mink. The attack was discovered when the family dogs started barking in the pre-dawn hours. The assailants opened pens in 4 sheds on the perimeter of the farm. Local sheriffs and the Des Moines FBI have gathered promising evidence, as the perpetrators left behind several incriminating items.

Neighbors and friends immediately came to the Erickson’s aide, and have recaptured most of the mink. The farm is adjacent to several large corn fields, so they expect to continue collecting the remaining animals for several days.

No claims of responsibility have surfaced yet. Farmers and resource providers in adjacent counties and states are urged to check their security systems and be extra vigilant in the coming weeks. This is the third attack related to fur production in the past 10 days, and more incidents may occur. Any suspicious activity should be immediately reported to law enforcement and Fur Commission USA.

Michael Whelan
Fur Commission USA”

Arson at Rocky Mountain Fireworks & Fur alert

The damage is described as “minimal”, yet the Fur Commission believes the fire “marks a significant escalation of tactics by violent animal rights extremists against the US fur industry.”

“Fur Commission USA
Security Alert
September 27, 2011

Arson Attack on Idaho Fur Store

Early Monday morning animal rights terrorists attacked Rocky Mountain Fireworks & Fur in Caldwell Idaho, using multiple incendiary devices. Firefighters from six different agencies battled the blaze that closed down Idaho Highway 30. An anonymous communiqué delivered to the Bite Back website claimed the crime was committed by “The Arson Unit” and marks a significant escalation of tactics by violent animal rights extremists against the US fur industry. Federal agents from the ATF in Boise, as well as the FBI in Salt Lake City and Seattle are investigating the attack.

There were no injuries and the fire was contained without significant damage to the fireworks or fur articles, said fire official Marty Ogan. “It was stopped relatively quickly, overall, there was a minimal amount of damage.” In addition to selling fireworks, the business buys wild fur pelts and sells trapping supplies.

Resource providers in Southern Idaho and Northern Utah should review their security precautions and immediately report any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity to law enforcement and Fur Commission USA.

Distributed by
Fur Commission USA
www.furcommission.com”

Astoria mink liberation alert

According to this memo, 40 of the 300 animals released had not been recaptured at the time it was distributed.

“Pacific Northwest
SECURITY ALERT
September 25, 2011

Mink farm attacked in Oregon

At approximately 1:30 AM this morning, unknown animal rights terrorists broke into a mink farm near Astoria Oregon, releasing approximately 300 animals. The farmer, with help from his friends and neighbors successfully recaptured all but about 40 of the animals within the first few hours. They continue to search for the remaining mink.

On Thursday a suspicious woman, about [REDACTED] yrs old, [REDACTED] lbs was seen near the Roesler Bros. farm. When approached she covered her face and drove away in a late model [REDACTED].

All farmers and other resource providers are urged to take extra security precautions and report any unknown persons near their animal facilities.

Please contact the FBI, your local police and Fur Commission USA if you suspect you may be targeted for attack.

Michael Whelan
Fur Commission USA
541-595-8568″

This is the 20th of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

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Leaked Document Lists All Suspicious Incidents at Fur Farms

Peter Young — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:35:01 +0000

Internal fur industry document on all suspicious activity reported by fur farmers in 1998.

Part nineteen in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

Sometime in the early 2000s, a document quietly began to circulate among activists who had done anti-fur work in the 1990s: a detailed timeline distributed to fur farmers by the Fur Commission listing every suspicious incident reported for the years 1998 and 1999. (I was never told how it was obtained, and I never asked.)

I’ve held onto this document for over ten years, and have decided to post it in full in two parts. The first is below.

What is the “Incidents Report”?

As part of it’s work to prevent Animal Liberation Front attacks, the Fur Commission encourages all its members to report any suspicious activity at their farms for inclusion in the “Incident Report.” The document is updated annually and distributed to both farmers and law enforcement.

The Incidents Report began in mid-1998 in response to an incredible 21 ALF fur farm raids the previous year. In an effort to build communication among farmers, detect patterns, and provide law enforcement with detailed data on possible fur farm raiders, the “Incidents Report” was born.

What is a “suspicious incident”?

Reading this document, it appears that when you’re a fur farmer, even the mailman is “suspicious.”

Most entries in this document fall into these categories:

Suspicious vehicles

The majority of reports describe vehicles seen near fur farms. The Fur Commission runs license plates, and lists the registered owners of the vehicles in most instances (I have redacted this information to protect people’s privacy.)

Of note is the number of “suspicious” vehicles that were found to have stolen plates. It is hard to know if this is just more fur farmer paranoia manipulating the data, or if there were people scouting farms with stolen license plates to conceal their identity.

Planes

You can’t make this up. Somehow, fur farmers adopted the belief that the ALF uses airplanes to surveil fur farms. This is absurd on a few levels, chief among them that there is nothing you could see from the air that couldn’t be determined more accurately from the ground. As though navigating a row of backyard sheds required such elaborate surveillance. More than anything, this belief in “surveillance by airplane” highlights how hopelessly out of touch fur farmers are, even at the senior level of the Fur Commission (Teresa Platt was a propagator of the “plane theory”).

Phone calls & emails

Even prank calls and emails are given clout as “security threats” in the Incident Report. Emails and instant messages are copied in full.

A couple of items from this category are mildly interesting, such as what appears to be a social engineering attempt to determine the address of a Central City, Nebraska mink farm by using a 911 dispatcher pretext.

Attempted raids

These include tripped alarms, and trespassers chased from farms. Most of the incidents listed were not reported outside this document, and include security guards chasing trespassers from farms. In one case, an armed guard actually fired shots into the air to scare off intruders. (One note: Guards are extremely rare, and are only encouraged by the Fur Commission during pelting season).

Actual raids

1998 saw 11 fur farm actions, all of which are reported in this document. While fur farmers appear to be vigilant enough to take down tail numbers off low flying planes, they seem to fail at actually detecting ALF raiders in their backyards.

The entries mentions some small details about ALF actions that I don’t believe were made public, such as one ferret that went uncaptured after a raid at United Vaccines in Wisconsin.

A rare glimpse into the fur farming world, uncensored

This document should be appreciated on a few levels, one being that this is a raw look at fur farmers “talking amongst themselves,” in a document they never thought would be seen outside their circle. The reports of planes, passing cars full of “straight edge types,” and more all paint a picture of very ignorant, disconnected people staring down their impending demise by way of a threat they can’t see or understand.

Next week, I will post the second installment: The “Incident Report” for 1999.

This is the nineteenth of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

(Click the link below to download the PDF)

Fur Commission USA 1998 list of "suspicious incidents" at fur farms

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Communique: Largest Mink Liberation In US History

Peter Young — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 08:55:28 +0000

Original ALF communique taking credit for the largest ever mink release.

Part eighteen in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

In September 2001, the Animal Liberation Front broke all records, releasing 14,000 mink from the Drewelow & Son’s Mink Farm in New Hampton, Iowa. This action holds the record as the largest fur farm raid in US history.

Although ever cage at the farm was opened, and losses were estimated at over $400,000, all evidence is that the raid did not shut down this farm. There is some evidence this farm remained open as of the mid-2000s, however there has not been any verifiable information as to the farm’s status in recent years.

The night after this raid, 215 pigeons were liberated from a vivisection breeder across the state, in Glenwood, Iowa.

The action also came a week after 179 birds were liberated from a toxicology lab in Wellington, Colorado.

The communique reads, in full:

“The Animal Liberation Front is claiming responsibility for the largest liberation of animals in history – the release of 14,000 mink from the Earl Drewelow & Son’s Mink Farm, 2477 239th St, New Hampton IA; during the early morning hours of September 7th, 2000.

Handheld cutting tools were used to strip away two entire sides of the farm’s fencing, giving the mink an escape route. Inside the sheds we found a horrific scene – thousands of mink crammed 2-3 to a tiny wire cage, waiting to die in a mess of waste and cobwebs. Any attempt by the fur industry to dismiss the Drewelow & Son’s Fur Farm as an isolated example should be considered a lie. The A.L.F. know from experience these conditions to be the industry standard. Ever cage was opened and 14,000 mink released to freedom.

The fur industry will be quick to respond to this beautiful act of compassion with baseless cookie-cutter form responses, in an attempt to discredit our actions and divert attention away from their sadistic industry. These standard lies from the mouths of murderers will be preemptively rebutted here:

Lie #1: “The mink will be hit by cars” – The absurdity of this statement is that before liberation, death was 100% certain. Every animal on the farm was bred to die. While it is true a small number may be hit by cars, most will not, and if nothing else they have been given a chance a freedom.

Lie #2: Mink are domestic and cannot survive in the wild” – Mink are in fact only one or two generation removed from their wild cousins and have not yet had their wild instincts bred out. The “Mink Rehabilitation Project” led by convicted A.L.F. liberator Rod Coronado proved this a decade ago. Mink legally purchased from a fur farm were released into the wild and shown through observation to retain natural survival instincts and thrive in the wild after a lifetime in a cage.

Lie #3: “Most of the mink were recaptured” – Mink travel several miles a day. Most mink had disperesed into the surrounding fields before the liberation was complete. A few may be recaptured, but only a handful. Our hearts go out to those few recaptured who were given a shot at life and now have only suffering ahead.

Lie #4: “The A.L.F. are terrorists” – Every action carried out by the Animal Liberation Front is an act of compassion, with the only intent to save the lives of sentient creatures. These actions are carried out with no benefit to ourselves, except peace of mind knowing we have done all we can to rescue animals from the torture chambers and concentration camps of the meat, dairy, egg, fur and animal research industries. Their freedom is our victory.

We break the law in adherence to a higher law – one which states animals are not commodities, not objects, but sentient creatures with a right to live. We will fight for the lives of these animals as if they were our own.

Animal murderers beware – the A.L.F. is watching and there is no place to hide…”

This is the eighteenth of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

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Zine Written By Informant Justin Samuel While on the Run

Peter Young — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 07:22:48 +0000

The travel zine written by my former co-defendant while he was a fugitive in Europe.

It is with some hesitancy I publish this document: The zine written in 1999 by my former friend and co-defendant Justin Samuel, documenting the experiences leading up to his arrest. To my knowledge, the existence of this was never publicized until now.

Some details: This zine was authored by the fugitive mink liberator and covers roughly the period of November 1997 (just after we went on the run) to November 1998. For obvious reasons, he authored it anonymously. He was arrested in Belgium about 10 months later.

The zine

The zine is titled “World Within”, and covers Justin Samuel’s European and Middle Eastern travels while a fugitive. He was 20 years old. He writes about his experiences riding bikes, hitchhiking, and generally living nomadically and with little money through several countries, including Syria, Israel, Belgium, England, Jordan, and more.

The fact that he is a fugitive on the run from federal charges is not mentioned, for obvious reasons.

It is a small miracle this document has survived the passing of 13 years. So the story goes, there were only a handful of photocopied hard copies ever printed. A person (who apparently had no idea who the author was) came across a copy in Israel, felt it deserved a wider audience, transcribed the entire zine, and posted it online. The original website has remained live for the last 12 years, with no indication as to who its anonymous author was.

It is vastly more interesting when read with the knowledge that the anonymous author is an American on the run from the law. For example, this quote, on his decision to travel:

“My new lifestyle allowed me almost no contact with my family and friends, and I didn’t see that as negative. I was free from all ties I had to the old me.”

The original layout has been lost to time, but a text version (with some graphics) has been preserved, and is posted below.

Some background

In 1997, Samuel and I released thousands of mink from fur farms in several states before being pulled over by police near the Zimbal Minkery in Oostburg, Wisconsin. After our vehicle was searched, we went on the run, knowing charges were imminent.

Samuel was arrested in Belgium in September 1999, after an ID check following an anti-nuclear weapons rally revealed his warrants in the US. He was extradited and quickly entered into a plea deal in which he agreed to implicate me and others in exchange for a reduced sentence. He was released in 2001.

Justin Samuel, post-felony road trip

By the time I last saw Samuel, he had undergone significant changes from the person I visited fur farms with. He had taken a sharp left turn towards an odd fusion of anarchism and Buddhism (evident in this zine), which included retracting support for many ALF tactics. At the time, I did not see this as the alarming harbinger I perhaps should have, still believing that his anti-authoritarian politics would carry over into jail, should he get arrested first and be in a position to implicate me.

As history showed, I was wrong.

My dilemma about publishing this

I’ve been sitting on this for some time, often considering posting but always refraining. While it is perhaps of some historical interest (albeit to a small number of people), my hesitancy comes in a couple forms.

One: Because of Samuel’s testimony, I have a natural aversion to publishing anything that might humanize him or showcase his work. His zine, while not profound, is not entirely uninteresting. Were it not tarnished by some corrupt authorship, many would find it a good read.

Second, I fail to see it having any movement-level value. It does not provide any insight or lessons to draw from. It is merely an introspective travel zine that is of interest on a voyeuristic level alone.

There may be one lesson here…

If there is something of value to be extracted from this, it is an important lesson I don’t see often acknowledged: There is absolutely no relationship between how “radical” one’s ostensible politics, and the true makeup of their character. One’s convictions are spoken entirely through their actions, and have no relationship to their words.

In this zine we see Samuel cover the entire checklist of “revolutionary” politics – from capitalism to overconsumption. Yet within months of writing this, he was groveling for mercy at the feet of FBI agents and selling out his friends (myself and others) for a marginally reduced prison sentence.

I hope that is the uncomfortable but lasting lesson of this zine.
World Within zine by Justin Samuel

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Security Alert #4: Two Suspicious Vehicles Seen at Fur Farms

Peter Young — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:09:08 +0000

In another leaked security bulletin, the Fur Commission warns fur farmers about suspicious cars seen near fur farms.

Part sixteen in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

Two suspicious vehicles are seen acting suspiciously near mink farms in Utah and Wisconsin, as described in one of dozens of security alerts obtained by Animal Liberation Frontline.

Note: I have redacted information that could be potentially compromising for the vehicle’s owners.

This memo was distributed to all 400 or so of the Fur Commission’s members after three Animal Liberation Front (and unclaimed) raids of fur farms had occurred in the previous 30 days.

The first farm mentioned, owned by Ryan Holt in South Jordan, Utah, had 3,000 mink released by the Animal Liberation Front in 1996.

Unclaimed action?

Interestingly, the security alert references four fur farm “attacks” in the month preceding the memo. However, only three are known. If there was a fourth raid, it was not claimed or reported by the media.

The memo could be referring to the arson at Rocky Mountain Firework Fur & Company in Caldwell, Idaho; however that business is not believed to be a wild pelt buyer and not a fur farm, as the memo states.

Hyper-paranoia and the fur farming industry

This memo, along with others I have posted and will be posting this month, highlights how neurotically vigilant some fur farmers have become. After over 90 raids of fur farms in the last 15 years, often any passing car is deemed suspect. Fur farmers are also fond of recruiting their neighbors, who can be more troublesome and overeager than the farmers themselves.

To further highlight this, I will soon be posting an incredible document: an entire log of all “suspicious activity” detected at fur farms over a two-year period (1998-1999), published by the Fur Commission. The first installment will go up later this week.

Past security alerts posted this month:

Security Alert #3: Fur Farmers Look Into Lawsuit Against This Site

Security Alert #2: Attempted Fur Farm Raid Reported in Idaho

Security Alert #1: How Two Fur Farm Raiders Were Caught

The latest security alert reads, in full:

“Fur Commission USA
SECURITY ALERT – UTAH, WISCONSIN
October 23, 2011
Vehicles seen scouting farms in UT, WI

Late Friday night a blue [REDACTED], with Utah license plates [REDACTED], was seen outside the Holt mink farm in South Jordan UT. The vehicle fled when approached, and after being followed it was discovered to have an un-matched front license plate (began with [REDACTED])

That same evening a light colored [REDACTED] with [REDACTED] plates [REDACTED] was seen making numerous passes outside Langer Fur Farm near Kewaunee Wisconsin. Two men wearing camoflage baseball hats were in the vehicle. Initial reports indicate that the license plates are not registered to that make or model.

With four farm attacks in the last 30-days, ranchers are urged to be especially alert to any suspicious activity around their property. Check your security, and alert your employees and neighbors to be aware of any suspicious persons or vehicles in the area. Report any unusual activity to law enforcement and Fur Commission USA

Distributed by,
Michael Whelan
Fur Commission USA
541-595-8568″

This is the sixteenth of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

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Fur Farmer Describes the Aftermath of a Mink Liberation

Peter Young — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 00:00:13 +0000

In a private letter, a Utah fur farmer describes her effort to capture mink released from a fur farm.

Part fifteen in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

Among the more interesting documents I’ve been sent is the letter I’m posting below, which I originally posted in 2010. It was described to me by the sender (and I have no reason to doubt its authenticity) as an inspirational letter intended for other fur farmers on dealing with an ALF action.

The letter describes the “clean up” after a large A.L.F. mink release in Utah. It begins:

“It’s been almost 4 weeks since the mink release in Utah at Chuck Lodder’s Ranch… I still wake up still in the middle of the night and worry.”

What follows is Mary Wardell’s experiences trying to catch thousands of mink liberated by the Animal Liberation Front. The full text of the letter is posted below.

Fur farmer letter describing the aftermath of an ALF raid

The raid

In September, 2008, the Animal Liberation Front carried out their largest raid of a fur farm in 5 years, releasing 7,000 mink from the Chuck Lodder fur farm in Kaysville, Utah. Fur farmers (and members of a nearby church) mobilized in the wake of the raid, converging on the farm to round up the thousands of animals released from their cages.

Candid perspectives on A.L.F. actions from animal abusers are extremely rare. Because it appears this letter was private and not intended to be viewed by the public, it is the kind of uncolored account the animal rights movement rarely gets to see.

“The destruction to the ranch was well planned”

Select quotes from the letter:

“The destruction to the ranch was well planned. Holes cut in the security fence every 5-6 feet which enabled the mink to run into the adjoining field.”

“Watching (mink farmer) Dennis Rees doing a tackle,,,yes a flying tackle no less, was something to behold.”

“Wess and I agree, we never want to see this happen again, but if it does, we will be there in a heartbeat. No one is going to take care of us, but us.”

“It’s been almost 4 weeks since the mink release in Utah at Chuck Lodder’s Ranch. Both Wess and I still wake up still in the middle of the night and worry.”

And one of the best fur farmer quotes of all time:

“When we got to the ranch I stood at the top of their big shed. If you can imagine an ocean of black mink, EVERYWHERE.”

Fur farmer letter describing the aftermath of an ALF raid

View FBI photos taken the morning after this raid:

Kaysville raid photos set #1

Kaysville raid photos set #2

And the full text of the letter reads:

“It’s been almost 4 weeks since the mink release in Utah at Chuck Lodder’s Ranch. Both Wess and I still wake up still in the middle of the night and worry. I thought I would share a little of that day for you.

When Bryan Boyce called us at 5:30 Sunday morning, there was no hesitation to get up and go. We checked our own ranches before leaving. We had a few minutes to sip a cup of coffee knowing it would be our only “nourishment” for most of the day.

Before we got to the Lodder’s ranch, we encountered Stan and Kendra Reese & boys rounding up mink at the sewer plant about 1/4 of a mile from the ranch. Between the bed of their truck and Bryan’s we probably had a good 50 to 75 mink. It was hard to count and hard to keep them in the truck.

When we got to the ranch I stood at the top of their big shed. If you can imagine an ocean of black mink, EVERYWHERE. It was a sight I’ll remember for a long time and one I hope I never see again. Lindsey McMullin and his son, whose mink were released 1 month before in South Jordan were already there, moving down the isle, catching right and left. What a nice man he is and it was a heck of a way to get to know someone. Before you knew it, familiar faces were popping up everywhere. Stan Stuart and his son, Smokey Dillree, his grandson and his wife. The Ball Brothers, Tony Jones, Keith Johnson & sons, Paul Westwood and his son, the Willis’, the Becksteads, Rusty Woolsey, and of course all the Lodder’s and their employees. Dennis Reese and his son Chase, Chad and Chaz Rowser, Reed and Dane Dixon, Chris Falco from the Fur Breeders came and handed out water, and many, many more who I wish I knew their names. And of course Ryan Holt. Ryan not only catching but taking care of the press, the FBI and keeping the communications going to the right people.

The destruction to the ranch was well planned. Holes cut in the security fence every 5-6 feet which enabled the mink to run into the adjoining field. Not only were the pen lids opened but they had removed the boxes also. Although the ALF communique said they destroyed pedigree cards, we didn’t see evidence of that. Maybe they lied???? They vandalized at least one truck that I’m aware of. The morning went by fast and we worked together in doing what needed to be done. The weeds on the other side of the fence were immensely tall, as a line of guys walked from one end of the length of the fence to the other, handing mink over to waiting catchers who in turn ran to the sheds and put them in pens. Because the weeds were so thick, the mink would hide under what had been tramped on, so the guys turned around and came back doing the same thing. Watching Dennis Rees doing a tackle,,,yes a flying tackle no less, was something to behold. The local church stopped their services and asked people to go to their neighborhood and catch what they could. They were filling up portable dog kennels and bringing them down the road. Thank goodness it wasn’t a “hot” Utah day, but warm enough to make us all sweat. We finally got some water, Gatorade, etc. so we could keep on going. I believe by the time we were done, we had 90% of the mink back in pens.

What impressed me the most was the camaraderie that we shared and the immense respect everyone had for not only each other but for the Lodder family as well. We were not catching mink that were sold at Seattle or Toronto, we were catching mink that are the among the best in North America, raised humanly and supported a family. They didn’t destroy us but made us stronger. We were watching out for us. You also have to respect the one’s who stayed at home, like Lynn Boyce and my father in law Jay, who stayed at home and made sure our farms were safe and our mink taken care of. Lynn and I have canvassed our areas and have set up our own neighborhood watch. The Summit County and Morgan County Sheriff’s dept. have stepped up patrols and we have our own local Search and Rescue patrolling for us also.

Wess and I agree, we never want to see this happen again, but if it does, we will be there in a heartbeat. No one is going to take care of us, but us.

Stay Vigilant, Wess and Mary Wardell”

This is the fifteenth of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

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Former Fur Commission USA Director Teresa Platt: Where is She Now?

Peter Young — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 03:47:44 +0000

Update on Teresa Platt since leaving the Fur Commission.

Part fourteen in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

If ever there was a real-life Cruella De Vil, it was Teresa Platt.

After previous director Marsha Kelly left the Fur Commission in 1996 (she quit after her home address was published in The Final Nail), Teresa Platt stepped in (it was probably not by chance that Platt lived in a gated community).

For the next 15 years, Platt was the face of US fur farming. As an industry that generally only needs a “face” after an Animal Liberation Front action, by default she had a nearly full-time job speaking out against the ALF.

However Platt’s zeal on the subject of the animal rights movement was especially high, and seemed to come from a personal and political vendetta. Indeed, she was not merely a paid public relations person reading from a script. A look at Platt’s past shows that she comes from a heritage of blood – her father was a tuna fisherman, who found himself a target of the dolphin protection movement of the 1980s.

Her tenure at the Fur Commission USA

After an ALF action (her tenure covered the time in which the vast majority of ALF actions took place), Platt instructed all fur farmers to not speak to the media, and refer all inquiries directly to her. She then recited her deceptive talking points that wouldn’t hold up to the lightest journalistic scrutiny. Among them:

Released mink die of “exposure” (mink sheds are not climate controlled or even fully enclosed, and freed mink are in the exact same climate as caged mink).
Most mink are hit by cars (it’s a strange kind of animal that runs to the nearest road and lies down).
Mink can’t survive in the wild (never mentioning the survival rate of a mink on a fur farm is 0%).

Platt’s talking points are outlined in this security manual for fur farmers (also believe to be put together by Platt) [CORRECTION: This document post-dates Platt's departure, and was in fact authored by the current FCUSA director], which includes instruction to fur farmers to feign a concern for animals, and pretend to the media that their primary after a fur farm raid is for the safety of their animals

Platt was believed to be the architect behind all of the Fur Commission’s ALF counter-programs, including the Neighborhood Watch program (a program “that is responsible for securing the US mink farming industry”), the annual Incident Report (compiling all reports of suspicious activity at fur farms),the Netwatch email list (a listserve which distributes “articles, security alerts and key information on conflict campaigns and eco-terrorism incidents”), the FCUSA dossier database ( with “reports… generated on individuals, organizations and incidents”), the “Safe Farms Campaign” (pushing for tougher laws against “eco-terrorists”), and more.

Although the claim is suspect, she also takes credit for being a key player in the passage of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act.

Her departure from the Fur Commission

In the summer of 2011, Teresa quietly left the Fur Commission. The official story is that the board wanted to shift it’s focus from public relations (Platt’s specialty) to “farm security” (protecting the few remaining fur farms from the Animal Liberation Front).

I read this as a tacit admission of two things:

1) They have conceded defeat in their attempt to sell the public on fur as an ethical clothing choice.

2) The Animal Liberation Front is the biggest threat to the industry at the present time.

To work on this new focus, Michael Whelan assumed her position in 2011.

Where is she now?

In November of 2012, Platt resurfaced as the director of The National Center for Public Policy Research’s Environment and Enterprise Institute in Washington DC, a “conservative, free-market, non-profit think-tank.”

The group is exactly what it sounds like: a think-tank to promote the profit-agenda of corporations whose interests conflict with that of animals and the environment.

She also recently published a book, Tuna to Mink. Tagline: “If you care about animals and the environment, you’ll love Tuna to Mink.”

This is the fourteenth of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

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Communiques from Two ALF Actions that Shut Down A Fur Farm

Peter Young — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 03:43:16 +0000

Part thirteen in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

After the large response to yesterday’s article on how three people shut down an Iowa fur farm, I am following up with both communiques from those actions.

The first raid took place on October 16th, 2002 in Ellsworth, Iowa. All 2,000 animals were released.

The second raid took place just six days later. After fur farmer Scott Nelson boasted in the media that he had recaptured most of the animals, the Animal Liberation Front returned and re-liberated every mink. The farm subsequently shut down.

Communique #1

October 16th, 2001
Ellsworth, IA
Scott Nelson Mink Ranch
1,400 mink released. This raid was video taped and footage released to the media.

“The Animal Liberation Front is claiming responsibility for the liberation of 2000 mink from a fur farm in Jewell, IA (Tollman Rd.) in the late hours of October 16th, 2001. Every animal was released.

Fences surrounding the farm were cut away, every cage opened, and 2000 mink ran to freedom. These animals were kept 3 and 4 to a small wire mesh cage. Their rescue came at the final hour, only a month from a violent death in the pelting season.

Captive bred mink are closely related to their wild ancestors, and have been shown to retain survival instincts when released – ensuring these liberated prisoners will live and thrive. The fur industry will move to condemn this action, using misleading half-truths and boldface lies. They point their fingers with blood stained hands. There is no defensible case for the taking of innocent life. Furthermore, there is no defensible argument against militant intervention to prevent this atrocity. When mink are no longer kept 4 to a small wire cage, when chickens are no longer kept packed in battery cages, when we stop calling dead animals food, when the blood stops spilling – these actions outside the law will no longer be needed. Until then, we will be tearing up fences, breaking down walls, and opening cages to free the animals. Terrorism against non-human animals will be met with liberation.

In this struggle for life against greed, compassion over sadism, our only recourse is to ignore laws and risk our freedom to save lives. Were you in a cage, whose side would you be on?

A.L.F.”

Communique #2

October 23rd, 2001
Ellsworth, IA
Scott Nelson Mink Ranch

“10/16/2001 A.L.F. liberated 2000 mink at Scott Nelson Mink
Ranch in Ellsworth, Iowa

10/23/2001 A.L.F. liberates all recaptured mink at Scott Nelson
Mink Ranch in Ellsworth, Iowa

The first time we visited Scott Nelson Mink Ranch in Ellsworth, Iowa we opened every cage on the property. We intended to close the place down; unfortunately some of the mink were recaptured.

To demonstrate our complete seriousness regarding the freedom of these animals and contempt for the people responsible for these horrible places we again visited the fur farm and opened every cage on the property. We demand these mink are allowed to remain free.

A.L.F.”

This is the thirteenth of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

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How It Was Done: Mink Farm Closes After Two ALF Raids in One Week

Peter Young — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 05:04:53 +0000

Anonymously-written story of how the Animal Liberation Front shut down an Iowa fur farm.

Part twelve in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

“In the week of October 16th, 2001, an ALF cell of three took wire cutters to the fences of a mink farm in Ellsworth, Iowa and released nearly 2,000 animals. Many mink were recaptured. Six days later they returned to free them. The farm closed its doors forever. This is that story.”

So begins the article written by an anonymous participant in the ALF raid of the Scott Nelson fur farm in Ellsworth, Iowa. This article was originally published in an early issue of Bite Back Magazine (click here to buy back issues).

This action was significant for a few reasons:

This was the first time the ALF raided a farm twice in one week. After the first liberation, Scott Nelson boasted in the media that he had recaptured most of the animals and had resumed business as usual. The ALF then returned six days later and re-freed every animal.
The first of the two raids was the first mink liberation in the US documented on video. The video was released to activists and the media following the action.
The second raid shut the farm down forever.

Farm confirmed closed in 2009

I personally went to the site of this farm in 2009 to verify that it had in fact closed. After confirming the exact location of the farm through old satellite images, I drove to the location, just north of the town of Jewell. Where the sheds once stood, I found nothing but a field of corn.

The Scott Nelson farm was a short distance from the site of three other ALF (or unclaimed) actions. The Isebrands fur farm, Palmer Erickson fur farm, and Hawkeye Mink Cooperative are each less than three miles away.

Also of note: 48 hours after the first liberation at the Scott Nelson farm, Double T Farms (a breeder of pigeons for vivisection) was raided and 162 birds were freed.

Read this inspiring story of how three people accomplished a tremendous victory for fur farm prisoners.

This is the twelfth of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

Animal Liberation Front raids Iowa fur farm twice in one week

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Complete List of ALF Fur Farm Raids, 1986-2012

Peter Young — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:05:31 +0000

Complete, updated list of every known Animal Liberation Front fur farm raid.

Part eleven in a thirty-article series this month on the ALF’s fur farm campaign.

Here it is: a list of every reported fur farm raid in the United States. From the first (incomplete) report of a fur farm raid in 1986, to the most recent: 13 foxes released from a farm in Virginia. Most of these were claimed by the Animal Liberation Front, while many were not.

This info was compiled from multiple sources, including: A.L.F. Complete Diary of Actions book, Bite Back, internal fur industry documents, discovery paperwork in legal cases, and media reports.

Here’s the final tally:

93 fur farm raids.
Just over 130,000 animals freed.

(If you notice any omissions or errors, please contact me. I want this list to be as thorough as possible.)

Fur Farm Raid List

1986
Unnamed farm
Near Portland, Oregon
66 silver foxes liberated

August 13th, 1995
Davidson Fur Farm
Annendale, Minnesota
One coyote liberated

November 16th, 1995
Jordan Mink Ranch
Olympia, Washington
400 mink liberated
CLOSED

November 16th, 1995
Ma Ellis Fox Farm
Pleasant View, Tenessee
30 foxes liberated
CLOSED

January 15th, 1996
Zimbal Mink Ranch
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
400 mink liberated

April 4th, 1996
W. Bennet Fur Farm
Victor, New York
1,700 mink liberated

June, 1996
Brainard Fur Farm
Snohomish, Washington
80 mink liberated
CLOSED

June 7th, 1996
Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Cooperative
Sandy, Utah
75 mink liberated

June 21st, 1996
Unknown fur farm
Riverton, Utah
1,000 mink liberated

July 4th, 1996
Latzig Mink Ranch
Howard Lake, Minnesota
1,000 mink liberated
NOW A FERRET FARM

July 17th, 1996
Holt Mink Ranch
South Jordan, Utah
3,000 mink liberated

August 9th, 1996
Carmel Mink Ranch
Hinsdale, Massachusettes
1,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

August 12th, 1996
Jorney Mink Ranch
Alliance, Ohio
2,500 mink liberated

September 28th, 1996
Jorney Mink Ranch
Alliance, Ohio
8,000 mink liberated

October 2nd, 1996
Paul Westwood Fur Farm
Salem, Utah
1,500 mink liberated

October 5th, 1996
Gauthier Fur Farm
Lindboro, New Hampshire
35 fox and 10 mink liberated

October 11th, 1996
Carmel Mink Ranch
Hinsdale, Massachusettes
75 mink liberated
CLOSED

October 23rd, 1996
Arnold Krohl Fur Farm
Lebaon, Oregon
2,000 mink liberated

October 25th, 1996
Reese Fur Farm
Coalville, Utah
2,000 mink and 200 fox liberated

October 29th, 1996
Bennett Fur Farm
Victor, New York
46 fox liberated

December 14th, 1996
Brainard Fur Farm
Snohomish, Washington
50 mink liberated
CLOSED

December 25th, 1996
Jack Brower Fur Farm
Bath, Michigan
150 mink liberated

April 9th, 1997
Kelly Fur Farm
DeBerry, Texas
10 chinchillas liberated

May 11th, 1997
Parson’s Mink Ranch
Salisbury, Maryland
500 mink liberated
CLOSED

May 28th, 1997
Lou Masog Mink Farm
Lebanon, Oregon
80 mink liberated

May 30th, 1997
Arritola Mink Ranch
Mount Angel, Oregon
10,000 mink liberated

July 4th, 1997
David Smith Mink Farm
Cle Elum, Washington
4,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

July 8th, 1997
Tom Mohoric Mink Farm
Medina, Ohio
41 mink liberated

July, 1997
Jorney Mink Ranch
Alliance, Ohio
500 mink liberated

September 1st, 1997
Ides Mink Farm
Downers Grove, Illinois
3500 mink liberated
CLOSED

September 2nd, 1997
Adams Fox Farm
Anerson, Indiana
200 fox liberated

October 5th, 1997
Frye Mink Farm
Crystal Lake, Illinois
5,000 mink liberated

October 6th, 1997
Palmer Mink Farm
Preston, Idaho
5,000 mink liberated

October 17th, 1997
Turbak Mink Ranch
Watertown, South Dakota
3,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

October 19th, 1997
Circle K Farm
Sioux City, Iowa
5,000 mink, 100 fox liberated

October 21st, 1997
Fassett Fur Farm
Webster City, Iowa
1 mink liberated

October 24th, 1997
Smeija Fur Farm
Independence, Wisconsin
800 mink liberated

October 24th, 1997
Ott Mink Ranch
Tomohawk, Wisconsin
300 mink liberated

Ocotber 25th, 1997
Jack Dittrich Minkery
Medford, Wisconsin
3,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

November 5th, 1997
Blaine Leffers Fox Farm
Fort Wayne, Indiana
125 fox liberated

November 28th, 1997
Carmel Mink Ranch
Hinsdale, Massachusettes
6 mink liberated
CLOSED

July 3rd, 1998
United Vaccines Research Ranch
Middleton, Wisconsin
310 mink liberated
CLOSED

July 29th, 1998
Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Co-op
Sandy, Utah
6 mink liberated

July 30th, 1998
Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Co-op
Sandy, Utah
2 mink liberated

August 18th, 1998
Mueller fur farm
Kimball, Minnesota
4,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

August 20th, 1998
Hidden Valley Fur Farm
Guttenburg, Iowa
330 foxes liberated
CLOSED.
(the farmer mentions two actions have occurred, only one action is known)

August 21st, 2008
Isebrand Fur Farm
Jewell, Iowa
3,000 mink liberated

August 27th, 1998
Brown Mink Farm
Beloit, Wisconsin
3,000 mink liberated

August 28th, 1998
Zumbro River Fur Farm
Rochester, MN
3000 mink liberated

October 26th, 1998
Pipkorn Inc
Powers, MI
5000 mink liberated

November 26th, 1998
Volo, Illinois
Empty fur farm sabotaged

December 2nd, 1998
Adams Fox Farm
Anderson, Indiana
150 fox liberated

February 13, 1999
Davidson Fur Farm
Annendale, Minnesota
6 fox liberated

February 17th, 1999
Nivison Mink Ranch
Richmond, Utah
9 mink liberated

February 23rd, 1999
Brainerd Fur Farm
Snohomish, Washington
150 mink liberated
CLOSED

August 3rd, 1999
Krieger Fur Farm
Bristol, Wisconsin
3000 mink liberated

August 8th, 1999
Gene Meyer Mink Farm
Plymouth, Wisconsin
2,500 mink liberated
(nearby United Feeds fur feed supplier burned down the same night)
CLOSED

August 14th, 1999
Frank Parsons Mink Ranch
Salisbury, Maryland
20 mink liberated
CLOSED

September 12th, 1999
Calvin Gunnink Fur Farm
Chandler, Minnesota
100 fox liberated

October 1st, 1999
Owl Creek Fox Farm
Montpelier, Indiana
30 fox painted with henna dye

October 25th, 1999
Calvin Gunnink Fur Farm
Chandler, Minnesota
5 lynx liberated

November 13th, 1999
Beckstead Mink Ranch
South Jordan, Utah
Hundreds of mink liberated

Janurary 29th, 2000
Brainerd Fur Farm
Snohomish, Washington
60 mink liberated
CLOSED

June 14th, 2000
Richard Gauthier Fur Farm
Lyndeborough, New Hamsphire
500 mink liberated

September 7th, 2000
Drewelow & Sons Fur Farm
New Hampton, Iowa
14,000 mink liberated

October 1st, 2000
Indiana
30 fox painted with henna

April 19th, 2001
Brainerd’s Fur Farm
Snohomish, Washington
200 mink liberated
CLOSED

October 16th, 2001
Scott Nelson Mink Ranch
Ellsworth, Iowa
2,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

October 20th, 2001
Scott Nelson Mink Ranch
Ellsworth, Iowa
1,600 mink liberated
CLOSED

May, 2002
Minkdek Brothers
Harborcreek, Pennsylvania
200 mink liberated

June, 2002
Lawrence Dana Fox Farm
Erie, Pennsylvania
All foxes liberated, breeding cards taken

August 18th, 2002
Misty Moonlight Mink Ranch
Waverly, Iowa
3,000 mink liberated

September, 2002
Minkdek Brothers
Harborcreek, Pennsylvania
50 minks liberated

September, 2002
Main Mink Ranch
Gerry, New York
Mink liberated and breeding cards taken
CLOSED

November 26th, 2002
Minkdek Brothers
Harborcreek, Pennsylvania
Fur feed storage building burned down

August 25th, 2003
Roessler Brother’s Mink Farm
Sultan, Washington
10,000 mink liberated

April 1st, 2005
Kerry Littig’s fox farm
Bluffs, Illinois
Dozens of fox liberated

August 14th, 2007
Carmel Mink Ranch
Hinsdale, Massachusettes
500 mink liberated
CLOSED

November 6th, 2008
Dale Marr’s Mink Ranch
Deming, Washington
150-200 mink liberated

April 21st, 2008
Jefferson Fur Farm
Jefferson, Oregon
40 mink liberated

August, 2008 (“days before” mink release at McMullin Mink Farm)
Hunter Groves Mink Farm
South Jordan, Utah
114 mink liberated

August 19th, 2008
McMullin Mink Farm
South Jordan, Utah
600 mink liberated

September 8th, 2008
S&N Fur Farm
Scio, Oregon
150-200 mink liberated
REPORTED EMPTY 2009, MAY REOPEN

September 21st, 2008
Lodder’s Mink Farm
Kaysville, Utah
7,000 mink liberated

October 17th, 2008
Ylipelto Fur Farm
Svensen, Oregon
1,500 mink liberated
CLOSED

October 4th, 2009
Ylipelto Fur Farm
Svensen, Oregon
300 mink liberated
CLOSED

November 18th, 2009
Lang’s Mink Farm
Richmond, Minnesota
50 mink liberated

July 13th, 2010
Unnamed mink farm
Franklin, Idaho
30 mink liberated

July 27th, 2010
Ylipelto Fur Farm
Svensen, Oregon
Eight incendiary devices planted, buildings & vehicle burned
CLOSED

September 10th, 2010
Harvey Beck Mink Ranch
Granite Falls, Washington
400 mink liberated

September 24th, 2011
Western Star Fur Farm
Svensen, Oregon
300 mink liberated

October 10th, 2011
Palmer Erickson Mink Farm
Jewell, Iowa
1,200 mink liberated

October 12th, 2011
Miller’s Mink Ranch
Gifford, Washington
1,000 mink liberated.

August 5th, 2012
D & S Fox Farm
Elkton, Virginia
13 foxes liberated

This is the eleventh of 30 articles I will be posting in December on the ALF’s fur farm campaign. Sign up for the email list to get every update sent to your inbox, or check back daily.

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