$10,000 reward for arrest of mink farm vandals

Image 1 of 2

Dan Lang, co-owner of Lang Farms, collects mink that have died of stress and heat exposure, as a result of their release.

Fur Commission USA is offering a $10,000 reward for information regarding the suspect or suspects involved with releasing nearly 38,000 animals from the Lang Mink Farm in Eden Valley, Minn, Monday. Thousands of the animals died due to stress and heat. 

According to Dan Lang, co-owner of the family farm, Mink are vulnerable to heat and stress outside of their living environment, which can lead to fatal outcomes. They are also susceptible to a number of wildlife diseases if they've never been exposed to outside pathogens. 

“Anyone who thinks they are helping the animals by doing this are severely misinformed” said Michael Whelan, executive director of the mink farmer’s national trade association Fur Commission USA. “This is a crime against the animals as much as against the Lang family”.

A group of perpetrators entered the farm between Sunday night and Monday morning, dismantling the surrounding fence and opening all of the barn cages.  

The incident is currently under investigation by the Stearns County Sheriff's office along with the FBI.