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Minnesota mink release claimed by lone activist

New claim of responsibility for the Grand Meadow, Minnesota mink release.

In a communique received today, “an individual working alone” took credit for releasing “at least” 250 mink (the farm puts the number at 450) from the Einar Myhre fur farm in Grand Meadow, Minnesota. It is the 9th US mink release in just over three months, as activists continue a massive fur farm campaign nationwide.

Working alone: the new model

Most notable about this release is that it was carried out by one person, acting alone. This is an emerging model, which has been seen in at least half a dozen significant actions in the past several years. Most recently, the September release of 20 mink in Utah was carried out by a single person.

It’s easy to see why increasingly, activists are choosing to carry out nightime raids alone. Finding solid, trustworthy, and willing people to carry out animal rescues is perhaps the greatest challenge of clandestine animal liberation activity.

Working alone also alleviates the threat of one person in the group informing on others, in the (rare) event of an arrest. The vast majority of substantial prison sentences in the US have been the result of an informant.

And the “working alone” model is particularly suited to mink releases, which do not require transporting animals off site, lookouts, or other roles that would necessitate additional participants.

While more participants would directly translate to more animals saved, we may increasingly see individuals weighing this benefit against the increased risk of informants, and the difficulty in finding trustworthy people to work with, and choosing to carry out rescue missions alone.

The communique

On October 7th, an individual working alone emptied a mink shed at the Myhre Mink Farm on Highway 16 in Grand Meadow, Minnesota. At least 250 fur-bearers ran to the lake directly behind the property. These animals needed very little help to freedom. As the cages were being unlatched, many of the individuals pawed it open themselves to make a dash. They are not domesticated and their spirits are not broken. Many of these mink screeched loudly at the sight of human hands, having only known the murderous hands of Einar Myhre. The only thing keeping these animals imprisoned is our own fear and a simple latch on a cage. A wild existence for them is only feet away. Make animal liberation a reality.

This is the ninth U.S. fur farm raid of the year. This level of activity has not been seen for nearly twenty years.

To the fur farmers of the world, we have nothing to say to you. We offer only this prayer: The rest is secrets. Silence now. If night has
fallen, sleep well.