Update: 20 years after ALF raid, Utah coyote lab still active

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An update on the twice-targeted USDA Predator Research Facility in Utah.

On October 24th, 1992, the Animal Liberation Front set fire to an office at Utah State University, set fire to a second building at the nearby Predator Research Facility, and released dozens of coyotes from their pens. The coordinated action temporarily halted research at the nation’s only coyote research facility. According to some reports, 33 coyotes were never recovered (the USDA disputes this).

Seven years later, a second raid took place. As reported on Animal Liberation Frontline last week, an unpublicized action occurred in 1999 in which 20 coyotes were freed from pens, and an attempt was made to burn down a building.

This little-known research facility remains in operation today. Here is a look at the current state of the lab, and what we know about it.

An overview

Headed by serial coyote-killer Dr. Julie K. Young, the Predator Research Facility is the only government-funded coyote research lab in the country. It is a division of the USDA’s Animal Damage Control. Started in 1973, it has grown to cover 164 acres.

The facility imprisons 100 adult coyotes on site in outdoor pens. It is located just south of Utah State University “between Millville and Blacksmith Fork canyons” in Millville, Utah. The exact address is listed as 4200 South 600 East, Millville Utah 84326 .

What they do

Hiding behind benign language that states their intention is to “reduce human and wildlife contact,” in reality the operation is another federally-funded meat industry subsidy to protect rancher profits from impact by predators.

After their raid of the facility in 1992, the Animal Liberation Front stated the the purpose of the lab was to “totally control predator populations with poisons, traps and even tracking and eradication using radioactive isotopes.”

The experiments taking place there include the testing of coyote traps used by cattle ranchers. This is the USDA’s own description of their work:

• “Testing the effectiveness of various control methods such as aerial hunting, livestock guardian animals, frightening devices, livestock protection collars, and sterilization.
• Development and testing of coyote attractants and repellents.
• Improvement of traps and snares.”

How to get close to the site legally

There may be only one way to (legally) get close enough to the facility to see the coyotes: Each fall, the Predator Research Facility holds an “open house” which includes a tour that is open to the public.

The next tour is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th from 4:30 pm and ending at 7:30. Tours start every 20 minutes.

Black bears also imprisoned

This year, after 40 years of housing only coyotes, black bears are now at the facility. The bears are used in studies to prevent rehabilitated bears from becoming what Dr. Young calls “conflict bears” once released. The details of the bear studies have not been made public.

Still open, still vulnerable

Photos of the USDA facility show a very accessible operation located on a public road, making it unsurprising it was twice the target of a nighttime raid by activists.

The lab has remained untouched by the ALF since 1999, yet its work imprisoning and killing coyotes continues.

Final words from the ALF

The words of the Animal Liberation Front after its 1992 raid should not be forgotten:

“Once more the ALF had proven that what could not be accomplished with years of protest, could be achieved with a handful of bravehearted warriors. Now it was time to wait for others to follow our lead.”

 

Memo: Researchers told to prepare for ALF break-in by making animals “presentable”

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Washington University claiming incriminating memo obtained by newspaper is a “hoax”.

On Wednesday morning, the Riverfront Times in St Louis posted excerpts from a memo purportedly distributed to faculty at Washington University’s medical school. The memo warned staff to “be on high alert for potential terrorist activity” during the time of this weekend’s “Free The Animals Conference” in St Louis.

The memo is incredibly incriminating, not just for its “eco-terrorism” scare-mongering, but even more so because of the following excerpt which advises researchers on taking steps to prevent intruders from obtaining footage of animals:

“[campus police advise] every precaution should be taken to make your animals ‘presentable.’ This should include replacing bandages often, ensuring animals have adequate food and water, and employing heavy security where there are animals in a post-op stage or animals with visible evidence of surgery or implants. Take extra steps to maintain all Animal Welfare Act standards.”

This is among the more incriminating quotes I can ever remember coming out of a lab.

But here’s one curveball: Washington University is saying they didn’t write it.

Hoax, or damage control?

About 12 hours after the original post on the Riverfront Times website, a revised version of the article was posted with this headline: “Wash. U. Med School Says Memo Warning of “Eco-Terrorism” is a Hoax“.

Of course they did.

View the before and after shots of the altered article:

Screenshot of original article.

Revised article calling memo a “hoax”.

The basis for the hoax claim is a single quote from a Washington University spokesperson:

“Washington University Protective Services did not send this memo to the medical center.”

So what’s the truth?

Without a copy of the actual memo (the Riverfront Times only included an illegible, thumbnail-sized photo), knowing the source (the paper didn’t identify theirs), or corroborating testimony from another recipient of the memo, getting to the truth might be impossible.

What is very simple is seeing the obvious: When caught tacitly admitting their labs are a horror show that must be made “presentable”, the university had every incentive to lie.

“Eco-terrorism” scare-mongering

The focus of the memo is to warn faculty and students of possible “break-ins, arson and animal kidnappings” (seriously) during the weekend of the Free the Animals Conference. And it does so in the most naive and excitable way possible.

We only have a few quotes (the photo indicates the memo is much longer), but here are excerpts we have:

• Washington University research labs are “a major target of opportunity…. particularly for the schoolʼs use of primates.”
• They believe that activist’s primary goal will be “obtaining video footage of [research] animals.”
• That myself and other speakers at the conference “travel the country urging activists to commit crimes in the name of animal rights. Their appearances are often followed by ecoterrorist activity. This makes the period of Thursday through Monday extremely sensitive.” (I am not aware of a speaking appearance by any of the presenters ever being followed by an ALF action)
• “Intruders will often employ disguises, so ask questions of any couriers, delivery persons, etc.”
• And lastly, a warning to any trespassers over the weekend: “We will be working with local and federal law enforcement to pursue Animal Enterprise Terrorism charges against anyone trespassing in research buildings.”

Animal Liberation Front = amazing media

This is yet another example of hype over the Animal Liberation Front translating into some fantastic media for the animals.

First, to the extent that you believe the memo is authentic, vivisectors have been exposed talking candidly about how horrific and bloody their work is – and how much of a public relations disaster it would be if anyone caught a glimpse of the animals locked behind laboratory doors. This is big.

Second, the first article was immediately succeeded with a  follow up article entirely on the campaign against Wash U and this Monday’s protest there. The controversy forced attention on the campaign against Wash U, and the work of local group St Louis Vegans.

On a bigger level, it forced a spotlight on the fact that a local university is killing thousands of mice, rats, primates, cats, dogs, rabbits, and other animals in its labs. This is a fact the university would prefer the public not think about.

Side editorial: It is tremendously disappointing that no national group has seized on the hugely incriminating quote instructing researchers to  “make your animals ‘presentable'”. A quote of this caliber has the potential to be a national scandal, but it will take either a brave reporter or the muscle of a national group. And neither have stepped up to make this happen.

The humble conference that stimulated so much fear

The hype centers around the Free the Animals Conference, organized by St Louis Vegans and Stop Animal Exploitation Now (SAEN), two very effective – and very non-militant – animal rights groups. Why the hysteria?

In all likelyhood, “eco-terrorism alerts” like this are probably just a combination of willful ignorance and bored police just wanting to look tough. Do they think conference speakers and attendees will storm their labs dressed as couriers and “kidnap” their animals? Maybe. Does it make them look like real tough soldiers in the “war on terrorism” and vigilant guardians of lifesaving animal researchers? Definitely.

Until they get caught admitting they are protecting a house of horrors. Then they cower and deny, deny, deny.

Endnotes:

Register for the Free The Animals Conference this weekend.

Attend the protest at Washington University Monday.

 

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Two-time ALF target selling birds to the University of Florida

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Status update on Double  T Farms, an Iowa breeder of birds for animal research labs.

In rural western Iowa, Ted Golka operates Double T Farms, which breeds birds for vivisection labs (and other purposes). Hundreds of pigeons were liberated in two separate raids at this farm in 2001 and 2002. Both actions were claimed by the Animal Liberation Front.

This week it was confirmed Double T Farms is still in business, and supplying the University of Florida.

Very little follow up is done on ALF targets – whether or not they return to “business as usual”, and to what extent (if any) the actions disrupted or stopped the targeted operation. This is especially true of more rural ALF targets, such as fur farms, where the status of such operations is harder to confirm.

This week, those involved in the campaign against the University of Florida obtained information that 8 pigeons from Ted Golka and Double T Farms were delivered to UF’s Animal Care Services.

The website for Double T Farms makes no mention of any animals being sold to research labs.

Double T Farms also breeds geese, swans, and ducks.

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Another Animal Research Billboard Targeted in Seattle

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Third pro-animal research billboard spray-painted

An anonymous commenter on the previous article alerted me to this: a third pro-animal research billboard has been targeted, this one in Seattle.

The website Puget Sound Anarchists posted this about the alteration (it is unclear of this is a communique from the person or persons responsible):

The Rat/Her billboard near the University Bridge was attacked last Thursday. An answer to the question “Who would you rather see live?” was written to read, “Both, actually.”

The URL, uwkillsanimals.com, was also added due to the proximity of the sign near the UW campus. The person responsible for this attack is in no way affiliated with uwkillsanimals.com. This attack was done against the lies that data from experimentation on animals can be extrapolated to humans. Many tax and tuition dollars are being wasted to torture animals at the University Of Washington.

Yesterday I (belatedly) reported on two Foundation for Biomedical Research billboards (one in Portland, the other unreported) which had been spray-painted to challenge the message that animal research comes down to  “either a rat dies or your child dies”.

Undoubtedly, the FBR has come to regret their billboard PR campaign. Overnight artists have turned it against them, and into free advertising for the animals.

Reportedly the Seattle billboard has since been taken down.

Check yesterday’s post for the first two billboards, and see the Seattle billboard below.

– Peter Young

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Two Pro-Animal Research Billboards Spray-Painted

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Two animal research billboards spray-painted to give the other side of the research debate

Two billboards from the pro-animal research group Foundation for Biomedical Research were improved in recent weeks. The location of the first was not reported. The second was in Portland, Oregon, and was altered to promote the new anti-vivisection website www.researchkills.org.

The photos say it all:

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Road to Primate Products Lab Blockaded, Sign Painted

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Road to animal research lab in Florida blocked, sign painted

In the first of two Florida actions in one week (see article on alligator liberation here), anonymous animal liberation activists took credit for sabotage near the site of a Primate Products research facility, located at 34200 Doctors Hammock Road, Immokalee, FL 34142 (map).

The anonymous communique, received by Bite Back, describes the action:

“May 8, 2011

A message was sent this morning to Primate Products and Scripps Biotech at a remote* primate testing and breeding facility in Hendry County…

A road blockade appeared earlier this morning, obstructing potential participants in an animal testing conference scheduled this week in a remote location near the rural town of Immokalee. The blockade consisted of large debris, including tires, tree stumps, concrete block and pallets, interwoven with chain and cable, cover in tar which obstructed the entrance way to the laboratory facilities owned by Primate Products. A message left on a banner, read ‘Stop Primate Torture’ and a sign was painted ‘Go Vivisect in Hell’

According to the program for the primate research conference, this week’s activities include trainings on ‘behavior modification’ for primates, to make them into ‘willing workers’ in scientific studies where they are tortured through animal testing practices including forcing diseases and drug overdoses, sensory deprivation and unnecessary biomedical procedures. The event also boasts classes on how to convince facilities to ‘buy in’ on animal research. The PDF with details on the conference can be viewed on Primate Products website, www.primateproducts.com.

Several participants in this conference have been the target of animal rights advocates around the world, due to their records of profit-driven abuse and mistreatment of animals, including non-human primates, the closest known genetic relatives to human beings.

A messages was also left for Scripps Biotech, based in Palm Beach Gardens. If Scripps Biotech moves forward with plans to expand their laboratory facilities, using $579 million in public money, for vivisection and genetic engineering in Palm Beach County, they will become one of the largest animal testing facilities in the southern United States.”

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Animal Research vs. Animal Liberation: CNN.com Debate Tomorrow

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Tomorrow at 12pm EST, CNN.com will feature a debate between myself, and two vocal animal researchers. Dr. Ray Greek will also be joining us. The lineup:

• Tom Holder: Started Pro-Tests a group supporting animal research.
• Peter Young: Animal rights activist, Animal Liberation Front supporter.
  

The producers describe the debate as a “discussion… to talk about animal testing in general- both sides…. the ethics of testing and also some of the violence that has been associated with that testing.”

To watch the discussion:

*Go to cnn.com/live

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Primate Lab Addresses Revealed

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The dissemination of names and addresses is its own form of outreach. Injustice demands secrecy, and a place to do its work in private. The revelation of animal abuse facility addresses gives the injustice a fixed physical location, information which is vastly more actionable than a thousand philosophical tomes.

Providing a step towards the day we have the entire animal exploitation grid mapped, activists have launched PrimateLabs.com, featuring a drop-down search feature giving the addresses of all primate labs in a given state.

This information is worthy of a future volume of my Flashpoint series, which has so far put into print the addresses of research labs, lab animal breeders, slaughterhouses, and fur farms.

Find out what’s happening in your area.

Peter Young

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