2,000 mink released in Wisconsin, latest in major ALF campaign

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The eighth US fur farm raid since July sees 2,000 mink freed from a farm in New Holstein, Wisconsin.

Early Saturday, a driver called police to report mink on the road near Bonlander Furs, a mink farm in New Holstein, Wisconsin. Cages had been opened and 2,000 of the farm’s reported 5,000 mink had been released.

The farm’s owner describes the activist’s methods:

“Whoever did it wrecked some of the latches on the cages, the wires were bent way over and some of the boxes were thrown out on the ground.”

This marks the 100th (known) release of animals from a fur farm since the Animal Liberation Front officially began it’s fur farm campaign in 1995 (a single release of foxes was reported in Oregon in 1986, before this tactic was widespread).

The farm makes the unlikely claim that 1500 of the mink have been recaptured as of Saturday evening.

The ALF targeting newly-discovered farms

The ALF appears to be targeting newly discovered farms, with six of the eight farms visited this summer having been made public in the last two years.

The address for Bonlander Furs was first made public in 2012, after a list of 60 previously unknown fur farms surfaced. Sites like Coalition Against Fur Farms and Final Nail track changes in the fur industry, including posting addresses of farms as they become known.

Liberators return to the largest fur farming state

Wisconsin is largest fur farming state in the US, killing over 1 million mink annually. This raid is the first release of animals in the state in nearly 15 years.

The last recorded fur farm rescue occurred in 1999, when the Animal Liberation Front released 2,500 mink from the Gene Meyer mink farm in Plymouth, Wisconsin. The same night, United Feeds – a major feed supplier located just up the road – was burned down. After the raid, Gene Meyer announced the raid had shut down his operation. (Anonymous activists confirmed this claim in a visit to the farm in 2009.)

Major siege underway

Eight fur farms have been hit and over 10,000 animals released since July – a level of activity not seen since the late-90s.

If this momentum is maintained, it could threaten the very existence of the US fur industry and finish it off forever.

 

Wildlife Biologist On Fur Farm Raid: “No one can convince me there won’t be survivors”

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Wildlife biologist tells media: “Mink are wild animals.”

I limit the scope of Animal Liberation Frontline to US news, and haven’t covered Tuesday’s release of 500 mink from a fur farm near Vancouver, Canada. However media coverage of the raid offered one quote from a wildlife biologist that is very relevant to recent activity in the US.

When asked about fur industry claims that released mink will die, Ministry of Environment wildlife biologist Mark Pimlott had this to say:

 “Mink are wild animals raised in captivity. They will suffer high mortality in the first few weeks. But no one can convince me there won’t be survivors.”

This raises concerns over why the media is not held to task on these questions:

Why does the media ignore that death is a 100% certainty for animals left in cages?

And why does the media continue to quote fur farmers on the survivability of liberated mink, when they are both uneducated and have every incentive to lie?

 

Bloody photos from inside a raided mink farm in Oregon

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Private photos give a behind-the-scenes look at the Masog mink ranch in Oregon.

In 1997, an unclaimed action saw 80 mink released from the Masog fur farm in Oregon.

Animal Liberation Frontline has obtained photos from inside this farm, not intended to be seen by the public.

The photos show:

• Bloody clothing of Nicholas Masog, taken (apparently) after skinning mink.
• Inside one of the mink sheds.
• Mink pelts hung in a processing room after skinning.
• A bin of dead mink.
• Other photos from inside the farm.

These photos speak loudly to the motives of the Animal Liberation Front.

 

Fur farm siege continues: Mink released in Ohio

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In yet another raid, the Animal Liberation Front releases up to 300 mink in Ohio.

In a communique received by Bite Back, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for it’s 7th US fur farm release in two months. In the latest action, 150 to 300 mink were freed from Lion Farms, 2707 Hoaglin Road in Van Wert, Ohio on September 29th.

Brand new farm targeted

Lion Farms was under construction as recently as December, and is the newest fur farm known in the US. It is so new, it is not reflected on any satellite images available online.

The Coalition Against Fur Farms reports the location of this farm was revealed by a tipster in early 2013, who provided the address while it was under construction.

European farmer attempting to enter the US market

Lion Farms is a company form Holland, that appear to be opening new fur farms in the US. Two farms owned by the company are known presently: The farm in Van Wert, Ohio; and another in Nottingham, Indiana.

The company has hit some speed bumps in its attempt to open fur farms in the US. In addition to this latest ALF raid, the other farm owned by Lion Farms went up in flames in May, 2012. In that incident a barn caught on fire, apparently while the farm was under construction.

The full communique reads:

“9/29/2013

150-300 mink released from cages and dozens of breeding cards destroyed at the massive mink farm owned by Lion Farms, 2707 Hoaglin Road in Van Wert, Ohio. This facility confines tens of thousands of animals, making it one of the largest mink farms in the United States. Time constraints prevented us from doing more.

Mink are wild animals native to North America. The fur industry’s lies are transparent. Mink are fiercely territorial carnivores and will have no problem hunting and surviving in the wild. Any wildlife biologist knows this.

‘The souls of the tortured dead cry out for justice. The cry of the living is for freedom. We can create that justice. We can deliver that freedom. The animals have no one but us. We will not fail them’

A.L.F.”

Hundreds of mink released from Pennsylvania fur farm

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Animal Liberation Front takes credit for opening “hundreds’ of cages in Pennsylvania.

In the sixth fur farm raid in two months, the Animal Liberation front has taken credit for releasing hundreds of mink from the farm owned by George Rykola in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.

This is the first fur farm raid in Pennsylvania since 2002.

Breeding records destroyed

The communique (posted below) confirms the Animal Liberation Front once again targeted breeding records as well as releasing animals, destroying “hundreds” of breeding cards.

This is one trend of note: recent raids have indicated the ALF is becoming more consistent about destroying breeding records, a move which can devalue a farm’s most valuable asset (its breeding stock) and inflict a devastating financial blow.

The ALF delivers a message to all activists

In ALF communiques going back decades, one message has been repeated consistently: There is no special skills or tools required to save animals from captivity and death, just a willingness to help them that supersedes fear.

In the latest communique, the Animal Liberation Front stated:

We want to reiterate, as several recent ALF communiques have, the ease of animal liberation. We possess no specialized skill set or expensive tools. A sense of determination and a desire for justice go a long way.

The siege continues

With six raids in two months, the Animal Liberation Front continues its fur farm campaign with the most intense energy seen since 1998.

The communique

“Last night, the Animal Liberation Front opened hundreds of cages at the Rykola mink farm located at 557 Colver Road in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania.

We lost count of the number of wild animals freed into their natural environment, due to the animals being housed in atrocious  conditions, four to tiny cob-webbed cages. Words can not describe the filth and blinding stench of this farm.

As expected, the animals wasted no time escaping from their barren prisons into the natural world.

In addition to opening cages, we destroyed hundreds of breeding cards, many with notations of price, which ran from $1,000 up to $10,000 per animal.

We want to reiterate, as several recent ALF communiques have, the ease of animal liberation. We possess no specialized skill set or expensive tools. A sense of determination and a desire for justice go a long way.

Pelting season is just weeks away. Look up The Final Nail and find a farm near you. Let the final stage of Operation Bite Back commence. We can destroy this industry that has destroyed so many.”

Claim of responsibility for Utah mink farm raid

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Anonymous activist takes credit for releasing 20 mink in Utah.

In a communique received this week by Bite Back, an anonymous activist took credit for the release of 20 mink and the destruction of breeding records in Utah. On September 13th, the farm of Harold Ovard (Wanship, UT) was entered, breeding records were destroyed, and cages were opened.

The communique indicated the raid was carried out by a single person acting alone.

Location of the farm revealed

After police and the fur industry refused to name the farm,  citing concerns of “retaliation”, this communique (posted below) reveals the farm:

Ovard Mink Farm
1715 SW Hoytsville Road
Wanship, UT 84017

The irony

Police speculate the small number of animals released (20) was due to the raid being interrupted by a feed delivery truck from the Utah Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Cooperative (FBAC).

In an unlikely coincidence, the Ovard mink farm is the same farm that a driver for the FBAC gave a stranger a tour of in 2009, not knowing the person was an animal rights activist working undercover. Photos taken in this tour were published in The Blueprint fur farm list in 2010, showing mink in small wire cages, and other features of the farm.

The communique

“THIS FRIDAY THE 13TH WAS AN UNLUCKY ONE FOR HAROLD OVARD AS HE AWOKE TO HIS BLOODY BUSINESS HAVING BEEN RAIDED BY A MINK LIBERATION BRIGADE WARRIOR.

BREEDING RECORDS DESTROYED, 20 MINK LIBERATED FROM A HELL OF HUMANITY’S MAKING.

FOR T, K, AND ALL PRISONERS OF THIS WAR.

LIBERATE!

– ANONYMOUS”

List of fur farms raided by the ALF that have closed

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A list of all fur farms known to have closed subsequent to visits by the Animal Liberation Front.

Here is what this list is not: A list of fur farms the ALF has shut down.

What this is: A list of fur farms confirmed to have closed, and were once visited by the Animal Liberation Front.

The evidence strongly suggests the majority of these farms shut down for reasons other than a visit by animal liberators (although in each case, the ALF may have been a contributing factor). The majority of these farms shut down years after an ALF visit, or the number of animals released was so small it is unlikely to have bankrupted the farm.

However, there are farms that are confirmed to have been shut down by activists. When the evidence is strong, or conclusive, the entries are bolded. Some of the evidence used to confirm the ALF had a leading role in a closure include:

• Court documents
• Timing of the closure (coming shortly after a visit by the Animal Liberation Front)
• Media reports

List of closed fur farms once visited by the Animal Liberation Front

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

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

April 4th, 1996, & October 29th, 1996
W. Bennet Fur Farm
Victor, New York
1,700 mink released, 46 foxes released, respectively.
CLOSED

Five raids over five years
Brainard Fur Farm
Snohomish, Washington
100+ mink released, total.
CLOSED

Three releases: June 7th, 1996, July 29th, 1998, & July 30th, 1998
Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Cooperative
Sandy, Utah
75, 6, and 2 mink liberated respectively
CLOSED DUE TO ACCIDENTAL FIRE, 2011. MAY REOPEN.

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

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

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

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

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
CLOSED

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

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

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
CLOSED

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

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

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

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

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

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; & October 25th, 1999
Calvin Gunnink Fur Farm
Chandler, Minnesota
100 fox liberated, 5 lynx liberated, respectively.
CLOSED

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

September 7th, 2000
Drewelow & Sons Fur Farm
New Hampton, Iowa
14,000 mink liberated
REPORTED CLOSED BY MEDIA, JUNE 2013. UNCONFIRMED.

Two raids in one week, October, 2001
Scott Nelson Mink Ranch
Ellsworth, Iowa
2,000 mink liberated
CLOSED

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

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

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

October 17th, 2008 & October 4th, 2009
Ylipelto Fur Farm
Svensen, Oregon
1,500 mink and 300 mink liberated, respectively
CLOSED

After being freed from a slaughterhouse, 10 cows remain free

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Ten cows go uncaptured after the ALF freed them from a Michigan slaughterhouse.

On August 26th, 15 cows were freed from a slaughterhouse in North Branch, Michigan.

It was among the more unusual actions ever claimed by the Animal Liberation Front – so unusual I didn’t cover it here. Like most, I felt freeing domesticated animals into the streets to fend for themselves was of no benefit to the cows, save for perhaps a few hours of relative freedom before being rounded up.

I was wrong.

Days after the the 15 cows were released, 10 remain free. There have been numerous sightings, but by the time police arrive the animals have vanished. Some of the cows have been spotted several miles away, and they may have entered a nearby 9,000-acre state wildlife area.

Stay free.

******

The Animal Liberation Front communique reads:

“In the early morning of August 26th two ALF members traveled three hours to a small town called North Branch, MI to vandalize and liberate a family slaughterhouse called ‘Mcnee’s Meats’ -years prior the beef they sold was even tested positive for E. Coli. One member glued the ignition to the transport truck and the lock to the front door as well as sprayed painted ‘Meat is Murder’ on the front of the building. The other member freed fifteen enslaved cows from being slaughtered, broke the lighting fixtures, and smashed holding cages for chickens (cows being the only animals present).”

 

 

20 mink released, breeding records destroyed in Utah

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Five mink remain free and 80% of breeding records destroyed in the fifth fur farm rescue this summer.

The FBI is investigating the release of 20 mink in Utah Friday in a raid police say was interrupted by the arrival of a feed truck. Roughly 80% of the farm’s breeding records were also destroyed. Police say five of the mink remain free.

So far, the Animal Liberation Front (or other nebulous group) has not taken credit.

Since the ALF launched “fur farm raiding season” with the release of The Final Nail #4 in early June, farms in Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, and now Utah have been hit, with as many as 7,300 animals released. This is the 5th rescue of fur farm animals in two months, in a summer that has seen a wave of large Animal Liberation Front (and unclaimed) actions.

Breeding records destroyed

Maximizing the impact of the raid, the majority of the breeding cards (generally found posted above cages) were also destroyed. This can cripple a mink farm by destroying the verifiable pedigree of its most valuable asset: Breeding stock. Without breeding records, a farm can suffer a massive financial loss and be forced to start from scratch.

Historically, the Animal Liberation Front has begun fur farm releases by destroying the records; a mostly silent activity unlikely to arouse attention before the noisier phase when animals are released.

Name of the farm kept secret

This is the first time in memory that police have refused to name the target of an animal liberation action, citing the threat of future raids. A police spokesperson had this to say about area mink farmers:

“They’re trying to remain as aloof as they possibly can because they don’t want to be revictimized.”

Narrowing down the list of possible targets

Although not named, the list of potential targets is narrowed down significantly by one detail: The raid was allegedly thwarted by the arrive of a feed delivery truck.

The Blueprint fur farm list contains an anonymously-submitted list of all Summit County fur farms on the delivery route for the Utah Fur Breeder’s Cooperative. Presumably, their feed delivery truck is the one referred to by police.

Here is the list:

Black Willow Mink, Coalville, Utah
BK Mink Ranch, Coalville, Utah
Rees’ Fur Farm, Coalville, Utah
Ovards mink farm, Wanship, Utah
D&B Fur Farm, Peoa, Utah
G-W Fur Farm, Peoa, Utah

In all probability, the most recent mink release was at one of these six farms.

The season for liberation

This rescue is yet another significant, life-saving action in the most active summer for the ALF in over a decade. Here is a list of the larget Animal Liberation Front (and unclaimed) actions of this summer:

• Pheasants released from “game breeder”, Riverside CA (July 22nd)
• Horse slaughterhouse set on fire, Roswell NM (July 27th)
• 4,800 mink released from fur farm, Burley, Id (July 28th)
• Bobcat freed from fur farm, Plains MT (August)
• Birds release from wildlife exhibit, Corvallis OR
• 2,000 mink released from fur farm, Morris IL (August 14th)
• 500 mink released from fur farm, Keota IA (August 30th)

 

Leaked bulletin: Released mink number in Iowa climbs to 500

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Animal Liberation Frontline obtains confidential “security alert” for recent Iowa mink release.

Media reports on the recent mink release in Keota, Iowa state that around 100 animals were liberated. However according to a private bulletin obtained by Animal Liberation Frontline, the number is closer to 500.

The full “security alert”, sent to fur farmers by the Fur Commission, is below. These bulletins are distributed via email and fax to fur farmers after fur farm raids and suspicious activity on farms. They are not intended to be read by the public.

The number of mink quoted is a discrepancy of 500% from numbers given to the media. This is yet another example of the actual number of animals released to be very different than numbers given to the media. Based on information obtained in court cases and other sources, the figures made public can be both more and less than the true figure. While insurance fraud is a potential motive for overstating the number of animals released, the motive for under-reporting is left to speculation.

More discrepancies

While the official line in the media has been that this mink release was a “prank” and not the work of those with an animal liberation motive, behind the scenes the fur industry is saying otherwise.. In this alert, the Fur Commission clearly presupposes the action is the work of “animal rights terrorists.”

According to the alert, the mink farm targeted did not even have a fence.

The full security alert reads:

“Fur Commission USA
Security Alert – Farm Attack in Iowa
August 30, 2013

Early this morning a farm was attacked outside the town of Keota in western Iowa. An estimated 500 mink have been released. Law enforcement is on site, and the family is in the process of trying to rescue the animals. The farmer did not have any fencing around the mink yard.

This is the third mink farm attack in the US since late July. All farmers are urged to be especially alert as animal rights terrorists are actively searching for, and attacking soft targets. Please arrange nightly patrols if you do not already have them. Updates will be circulated as they become available.

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

All police “required” to report animal releases to the FBI

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Iowa sheriff tells media “all” police departments must report animal releases to the FBI.

A quote in a follow-up article on the mink release in Keota, Iowa revealed one interesting (but unsurprising) note: That all police departments are “required” to report any animal release to the FBI.

The police log states that sometime overnight on Aug. 30, about 100 mink were released from cages in the 1100 block of 190th Street in Keota.  The sheriff says that as of Thursday, “some” of the animals were still missing.

Presumably, crimes the most powerful investigative agency in the country is not interested in investigating include robbery, home invasion, assault, murder, and any arson and property damage that is not intended to save animals.

Police say they continue to investigate the release as a “prank”, but that their investigator and the FBI have been in frequent contact.

Yet another fur farm hit: Over 100 mink freed in Iowa

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In the fourth fur farm raid in just over a month, 100 mink are released in Keota, Iowa.

Police were called to a rural Iowa mink farm at 5:30 Friday morning, responding to a call about “loose animals.” Police blocked off the road and began to roundup the over 100 mink that had been released sometime overnight. A police spokesperson described the scene:

“It looked like someone had opened the lids on the cages and let them run out.”

As with another recent fur farm raid in neighboring Illinois, there has been no claim of responsibility so far.

The animals were reportedly kept in cages “in plain sight of the road.” No graffiti or other indicators of a motive were left behind, and police are investigating the incident as a “prank.”

“We don’t see any signs of an animal rights group at this time… This looks like a prank at this point.”

However they may not be aware that this the fourth animal liberation action in a three-state area in three weeks, making it highly unlikely this is anything but the work of animal liberators.

Surge of activity in the Midwest

In the month of August, there were four actions in the three-state Iowa-Wisconsin-Illinois area, with the latest occurring just four days before this latest incident.

On August 24th, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for flooding the home of a North American Fur Auction executive by placing a running hose through his window.

On August 14th, 2,000 mink were released from a fur farm in Morris, Illinois. The raid has so far gone unclaimed.

And on August 10th, “Iowans for Animal Liberation” took credit for throwing red paint on the iconic “Butter Cow,” a fixture of the Iowa State Fair for over 100 years.

With four actions in three weeks, and 75% of them targeting the fur industry, this latest incident is unlikely to be a “prank.”

The farm in question

According to the website Final Nail, the fur farm targeted was:

Don Conrad
1109 190th Street
Keota, IA 52248
Phone: (641) 636-3858

Iowa remains a center of activity

Fur farms in Iowa are far and away the most targeted by the Animal Liberation Front, with 10 farms raided since 1997. Other ALF actions in Iowa have included the rescue of birds on two occasions from Double T Farms, a breeder of birds for vivisection (both claimed by the Animal Liberation Front), and the raid at the University of Iowa in 2004, in which 401 animals were rescued.

This activity prompted a newspaper in Waterloo Iowa to do a three-part series on animal liberation activity in the state recently, referring to the University of Iowa raid the state’s “most notorious,” and the throwing of red paint on the Butter Cow a “terroristic act.’ (police quote)

Recently, police near Keota took to staking out a proposed horse slaughterhouse in nearby Sigourney, fearing animal rights activists would burn it down.

Apparently they were staking out the wrong target.

Two activists arrested with “burglary tools” in rural Illinois

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Animal rights activists held in jail for allegedly possessing wire cutters.

Los Angeles animal rights activists Kevin Olliff and Tyler Lang have been arrested in rural Illinois, charged with felony “possession of burglary tools.”

These are the facts of the case that are known right now:

The two were pulled over late at night in Roanoke, Illinois in what appears to be a routine traffic stop. When they refused consent to a search of the vehicle, the police searched the vehicle anyway. Inside, police allege they found bolt cutters, wire cutters, muriatic acid, ski masks, and cammo clothing.

Kevin Olliff and Tyler Lang were subsequently arrested for “possession of burglary tools.”  The police have not made any statement as to what they believe the intended “burglary” target was, and Kevin & Tyler were not arrested on anyone’s property. Their history as activists appears to be the sole basis for the charges.

Their new support site cautions that details on the arrest are still emerging :

“Many details are not known, and there are some we cannot post publicly yet.”

They face a maximum of 3 years in prison.

To recap

• They were not arrested in the commission of a crime.
• They were not arrested on anyone’s property.
• They were not arrested near the scene of any crime.

Their only “crimes” are being known animal rights activists in (alleged) possession of wire cutters.

Exorbitant bail amounts set

Shortly after their arrest bail was set. After the prosecutor asked for much lower bail amounts, the judge went beyond the prosecution’s request and set bail at $100,000 for Tyler Lang, and $200,000 for Kevin Olliff.

These amounts are far above normal. In Illinois, $15,000 is the standard bail for Class 4 felonies.

The two remain in Woodford County Jail, pending the outcome of a bail reduction hearing in the future.

How you can help

A support site has been set up to post updates on Kevin and Tyler’s case. Right now, here’s what you can do:

Repost their support site link: The Support Kevin and Tyler site is up and will be updated regularly.

Send books: Mail rules at the Woodford County Jail are considerably more reasonable than most larger jails. Anyone can put any book into an envelope and send directly to Kevin or Tyler (both softcover and hardcover). Their book wish lists are posted here.

Update: Hours after their book wish list was posted, the jail announced that all books are banned from Woodford County Jail. in a jail with less than 20 prisoners,  this is a transparent attempt to target Kevin & Tyler. Check the Support Kevin and Tyler site for updates.

Send letters: Anyone can correspond with them via email or written letters. With email, prisoners at Woodford County Jail must send the first email. To start an email correspondence, first send a written letter with your email address and they will email you a response.

(Note: Kevin’s legal name is “Kevin Johnson”)

Kevin Johnson #4565
Woodford County Jail
111 E Court St.
Eureka, IL 61530

Tyler Lang #4564
Woodford County Jail
111 E Court St.
Eureka, IL 61530

More updates to come

There are many details which will be coming out in the near future, and they will be posted here.

Home of Wisconsin fur auction executive flooded by the ALF

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VP at North American Fur Auctions has his house sabotaged.

This week, the Animal Liberation Front took credit for “completely flooding” the home of an executive at North American Fur Auctions. According to the communique received by Bite Back, Vice President for “wild fur” Brian MacMillan had a running garden hose inserted in his window Sunday morning. The extent of the damage is not known.

NAFA: A significant target

North American Fur Auctions (NAFA) operates the largest fur auction house in North America, located in Toronto. It also operates a major fur grading and processing facility in the Stoughton, Wisconsin; processing the majority of pelts from US fur farms. The operation is in an unassuming building along railroad tracks in an industrial park, giving no indication of its significance to the US fur industry.

In addition to animals from fur farms, North American Fur Auctions sells millions of “wild fur” pelts, i.e. animals trapped in the wild. In 2011, it sold 5.3 million mink alone. Other wild-caught animal pelts they sell include beaver, bobcat, lynx, coyote, and many more. The target of this latest ALF action was the head of the trapped animal division.

Last year, the re-launched Coalition Against Fur Farms posted a list of other key employees at the company.

 Foreshadowing: NAFA speaks out on the ALF last month

The company recently found itself the subject of a newspaper article in Wisconsin, after the ALF released the latest edition of The Final Nail, which included the address for the NAFA plant in Stoughton. When asked about the threat to its business posed by the ALF, a NAFA spokesperson said:

“[Animal Liberation Front actions are] something that you have to be vigilant about… The Animal Liberation Front are extremists. Their whole purpose in life is to destroy the industry. They encourage criminal acts. They encourage people to break into farms.”

At that time, the company had never been targeted by the ALF. They have now.

The full Animal Liberation Front communique reads, in full:

“Around 7:00am on August 26, a cell of the Animal Liberation Front entered the back yard of Brian L. MacMillan, 1245 Mockingbird Lane in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. Brian is the Vice President of Wild Fur Operations at North American Fur Auctions, the largest fur auction house in North America. Brian is a terrorist who deals in the skins of wild animals tortured and killed in steel-jaw leghold traps. The counter-terrorists of the Animal Liberation Front broke his double paned window, and inserted his own garden hose; completely flooding his home.

Most people would be amazed at the sight of a bobcat, a creature so majestic and free. Brian’s empty heart sees only profit.

There is no doubt Brian and NAFA will attempt to portray themselves as victims. They have the audacity to call us terrorists, when every penny they have made is at the torture and subjugation of what is wild and free. All who contribute to industries of earth and animal destruction shall take note. There is a higher law.

Animal Liberation Front”