Breeding records destroyed at largest bobcat farm in the U.S.

Posted by Peter | 5 comments

First known action at Fraser Fur Farm, largest wildcat farm in the US.

In a communique received by Bite Back, anonymous activists took credit for destroying breeding records at the notorious Frazier Fur Farm, believed to be the largest captive bobcat operation in the U.S.

According to the report, on March 7th the activists entered a row of bobcat pens, and began the process of eliminating the breeding cards from each cage.

The activists stated their intention to release animals, but were prematurely “run off-site by awoken residents.” From the communique:

“It is with tremendous sadness in our hearts that despite our best efforts, cages were unable to be opened before being run off-site by awoken residents.”

Breeding records are crucial to the sustenance of a fur farm. Profit is directly related to the quality of the breeding stock, which is only maintained through these records. The destruction of breeding records has at times been cited as more economically damaging to a farm than the release of animals.

The full communique on this action is below.

What we know about Fraser Fur Farm

Fraser Fur Farm is located in Ronan, Montana; north of Missoula.

This fur farm first came onto the radar of activists in the early-1990s, when it was infiltrated by Rod Coronado, who worked there undercover when posing as an aspiring fur farmer. An account of this infiltration is detailed in the book Operation Bite Back, by Dean Kuipers.

Other than the stories contained in OBB, the best information available comes from this anonymous report, circulated after anonymous activists visited the farm during the daytime in 2009. While this report identified the animals imprisoned as lynx (and lynx were confirmed held there at the time of Rod Coronado’s undercover work), the latest information indicates the only wildcats on site are bobcats.

Information obtained by Coalition Against Fur Farms in 2010 states that the following species and numbers of animals were auctioned by Fraser Fur Farm in 2010:

Coyotes: 43
Red Fox: 9
Cross Fox: 2
Bobcats: 87

Fraser Fur Farm also sells animal urine, collected from animals imprisoned there.

The Richwine family, who own the farm, also operate the Burgerville restaurant in neighboring Polson, MT, according to the Final Nail website.

In 2010, police state an employee called 911 and reported the farm received an anonymous call that “terrorist” members of an “animal welfare coalition” will “invade the property and attempt to release the farm’s animals”.

Latest in a fur farm raid resurgence

After years of infrequent fur farm raids, 2013 saw the Animal Liberation Front’s fur farm campaign return to a level not seen since the 1990s. From July to November, there were 10 releases of animals from US fur farms. The last action took place in Colorado, where a previously unknown mink farm had every animal released and subsequently announced its closure.

Photos from inside Fraser Fur Farm

These photos were taken anonymously in 2009, by activists who visited the farm:

The full communique reads:

“In the early morning hours of March the 7th, anonymous individuals breached the property lines of Fraser Fur Farm, a target of anti-fur activists and compassionate individuals for nearly a quarter century. Our motives were borne of a fierce love for wildlife, and a torn heart forced to watch as bobcats and other wild creatures have been made to endure intense confinement and the inevitable fate of a horrendous death at the hands of those who seek to profit from their skins. Fur-farming is a truly despicable industry, and the neck-breaking, rib-cage stomping, anal-electrocutions, and gas chambers must be put to an end by all those with love and courage in their hearts.

After entering the compound, we quickly discovered various methods of security deterrence, including motion-sensor floodlights, fortified fencing, active guard dogs and two houses on-site, one of which say less than 100 feet from the bobcat pens which were our target. Nonetheless, our task was to disrupt as best we could the fate which awaits these fur-bearing animals. Upon entering the bobcat enclosures, we viewed these majestic creatures reduced to market commodities and felt shame that such humans would bestow an existence like this. Some cowered toward the backs of their cages; others slowly inched toward us, curious as to the motives of these last-night visitors; and still others quickly began thrashing about, violently throwing their bodies as a clear expression of the torment inherent in their captivity. Now is our time to lend a hand toward their freedom, and return to the wild.

We quickly began the process of destroying all breeding records. This non-violent act is to ensure the loss of irreplaceable genetic lines, rendering the breeding stock of a given fur-producing business lost. It is with tremendous sadness in our hearts that despite our best efforts, cages were unable to be opened before being run off-site by awoken residents.

This act was meant not to inflict violence against those who profit from this business, or to instill fear and terror in a world already rife with such things. But simply as a gesture of solidarity and love toward those trapped in cages. We, and all others born with enduring compassion in their hearts, will continue to risk freedom in service to others, so long as captivity and violence is the status-quo. We hope and pray for the day when those who reap profits at the expense of all that is sacred will be made to stop the violence, until the last fur farm meets its end.

For all those, human and non-human, continuing to struggle for dignity and peace on occupied land.”