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

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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.”

Victory: After tampering claim, company stops selling mink oil

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After 263 jars of mink oil are tampered with, SC Johnson announces it will no longer use mink oil in its products.

In a communique last week, an anonymous group took credit for tampering 263 jars of Kiwi mink oil across the US, contaminating it with cyanic acid. The oil is typically used to treat leather garments, which cynaic acid destroys.

Almost immediately, the parent company of Kiwi, SC Johnson, instructed retailers to pull all Kiwi mink oil from the shelves. Soon after, SC Johnson announced it would no longer be selling mink oil.

And the US fur industry has suffered another huge blow from activists.

What is mink oil?

This action and subsequent victory has put a spotlight on this little-known-of revenue stream for fur farmers.

Mink oil is a byproduct of fur farm production. It is not believed any mink are farmed for their oil alone.

Most mink oil in the US is used as a feed additive for (factory farmed) animals. Other uses are in cosmetics, and as a leather treatment (as in Kiwi brand mink oil).

A 1994 document published by Utah State University stated that “the Emulon (sic) Company, located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, is
possibly the nation’s largest processor of mink oil.” This company is the possible vendor of mink oil to Kiwi, who is also based in Wisconsin.

This document also states:

“The management at Emulon (sic) indicated that the volume of their mink oil business has been reduced substantially in recent years as a result of the animal rights movement.”

If Emulan is the vendor to Kiwi, they are likely to be Emulan’s biggest customer. If so, this tampering claim and subsequent announcement by SC Johnson could very well cripple the country’s largest mink oil vendor.

Another huge blow for the fur industry

The Kiwi products with mink oil will no longer be sold and will be replaced with the reformulated versions down the road, an SC Johnson spokesperson said.

With such small profit margins, the elimination of mink oil as a revenue stream could bring many fur farms even closer to collapse.

The communique

“In a well coordinated action during the second week of November, 263 jars of Kiwi mink oil sold in chain drug and big box stores were tampered with across the United States.

Fortunately for us, Kiwi does not use tamper proof seals. Each jar was opened and a small amount of cyanic acid added. They were then placed back on the shelves in Wal-Mart, CVS, Walgreens, and other stores.

Mink oil is a leather care byproduct of one of the most cruel industries on this planet. Mink on fur farms are crowded often six to a cage for life awaiting a violent death in the pelting season, which comes in one of two ways, neck breaking or gassing with a lethal dose of carbon monoxide.

Those who use this product will not die like the animals caged on fur farms. The cyanic acid will cause a severe burn and eat through the leather products it is applied to.

Kiwi’s involvement with the fur trade will no longer be tolerated.”

Iowa State Fair “Butter Cow” sabotaged with red paint & slogan

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Activists hide out inside fair building and sabotage the iconic “butter cow” in Iowa.

A group calling themselves “Iowans for Animal Liberation” took credit Monday for infiltrating the Agriculture Building overnight, and pouring red paint over the world famous Iowa State Fair “Butter Cow”. In a statement, the group stated the paint “represents the blood of 11 billion animals murdered each year in slaughterhouses, egg farms, and dairies.”

A slogan was also left on the glass case housing the sculpture: “Freedom For All.”

For over 100 years, the life-sized “butter cow” has been a staple of the Iowa State Fair, attracting nearly 1 million visitors annually. It is widely held as a symbol of, and source of pride for, animal agriculture in Iowa.

In an anonymous statement released Monday, the group described how they infiltrated the building  and carried out the action:

“We hid inside the Agriculture Building and emerged after closing. After dismantling the lock to the refrigerated case housing the Butter Cow with a screwdriver, we doused the entire butter sculpture in red paint… We then left a painted message on the glass of the display: ‘Freedom for all.'”

This is the second successful infiltration of the Butter Cow display. In 2011, anonymous individuals took credit for bypassing a guard in the Agriculture Building, scaling a wall in a back hallway, entering the refrigerated case with the sculptures, and and affixing a sign reading “Go Vegan.”

Police stated they are reviewing security footage at the Butter Cow to identify suspects.

The action has become one of the largest sabotage-related media stories in recent memory, with coverage on most major news sites, and even sparking comment from Iowa’s governor:

“I think it’s a despicable act. First of all, I love the Iowa State Fair, I love the butter cow. Attacking the butter cow, that’s personal.”

Iowa state senator Chuck Grassley also weighed in on the action, saying:

“There’s a good way and a bad way of expressing your opposition to animal agriculture, whether it’s in an academic way or a political way or whether it’s in written intellectual statements or whether it’s out on a soap box.”

Media coverage has also focused on the history of the Animal Liberation Front in the state. Past ALF actions have included the largest mink release on record (14,000 mink from an Iowa farm in 2000), and a raid at the University of Iowa (401 animals removed from labs in 2004).

With the media quoting heavily from the communique, this action served as a delivery device to bring the plight of animals into the minds of millions of people nationwide. One frequently used excerpt, quoted in places such as the site for Time Magazine, read:

“We intend this action to serve as a wake up call to all who continue to consume meat, dairy, eggs, leather, and all animal products: You are directly supporting suffering and misery on the largest scale the world has ever known.”

The full statement of responsibility reads:

“Iowans for Animal Liberation is taking responsibility for destroying the iconic Iowa State Fair ‘Butter Cow’ on the night of August 10th.

We hid inside the Agriculture Building and emerged after closing. After dismantling the lock to the refrigerated case housing the Butter Cow with a screwdriver, we doused the entire butter sculpture in red paint. The paint represents the blood of 11 billion animals murdered each year in slaughterhouses, egg farms, and dairies. We then left a painted message on the glass of the display: ‘Freedom for all.’

We intend this action to serve as a wake up call to all who continue to consume meat, dairy, eggs, leather, and all animal products: You are directly supporting suffering and misery on the largest scale the world has ever known.

Each year, nearly 1 million people visit the Butter Cow, a life-sized cow sculpted out of butter. Let this action be a reminder that this attraction represents the suffering of billions of animals each year: animals stolen from their mothers on dairy farms, imprisoned in cramped cages on egg farms, ground up alive in hatcheries, and hoisted by their legs while their throats are slit in slaughterhouses. The Butter Cow is a symbol and celebration of this mass murder.

The Iowa State Fair has attempted to cover up this action from the media and fair-goers since it was discovered early Sunday. With this communique, we are submitting a link to a photo of the sabotaged Butter Cow, taken the night of the action.

If factory farmers continue to lie to the public that their farms are ‘humane,’ then they will be happy to accept our challenge:

Allow the media and public into your farms.
Allow the media and public into your slaughterhouses.

Nothing to hide? Let us inside.

Iowans for Animal Liberation”