SUNBURY, Pa. — Two individuals are facing legal action after approximately 200 minks were freed from cages at a fur farm situated in central Pennsylvania.
Most of the minks were successfully recaptured, a significant contrast to a similar event that occurred more than a year prior when thousands of minks were let loose into the vicinity.
State police from Northumberland County received a call just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, regarding two suspects who were recorded on security footage releasing the minks at Richard H. Stahl Sons Inc. farm located in Rockefeller Township, near Sunbury.
The arrested individuals, both from Massachusetts, are charged with agricultural vandalism, criminal mischief that resulted in property damage, theft, burglary, trespassing, and animal cruelty.
They are currently being held at the county jail, with a local district judge setting bail at $150,000 for each. A preliminary hearing is slated for October 29.
As of now, it remains unknown whether the accused have legal representation to provide statements on their behalf.
In an incident that occurred in September 2023, a considerable number of minks, estimated between 6,000 and 8,000, were released after intruders cut holes into the farm’s perimeter fence.
This time around, however, the existence of a perimeter fence appears to have prevented a larger escape, according to Challis Hobbs from the Fur Commission USA.
The installation of security cameras post-2023 incident led to quicker notification of the police when the minks were released, Hobbs elaborated.
The Fur Commission has hailed the arrests as a significant victory for farmers who are often targeted by extremist groups.
Hobbs noted the continual harassment, trespassing, and threats that farmers are under, emphasizing that this particular farm adheres to stringent certification protocols to ensure animal welfare, which include third-party inspections for compliance.
According to Hobbs, any farmed minks that are released typically do not survive long, with most succumbing to starvation, becoming prey to other animals, or facing accidents like being hit by vehicles within 24 to 48 hours.
Meanwhile, the North American Animal Liberation organization has announced on its website that it is seeking support for the detained individuals.