10,000 mink still loose in Van Wert

VAN WERT COUNTY - Roughly 10,000 mink are still on the loose in Hoaglin Township following an early Tuesday morning farm breakout that is under investigation by multiple agencies.

"We absolutely believe this is an intentional act," Van Wert County Sheriff Thomas M. Riggenbach told the newspaper.

Fencing was destroyed and between 25,000 to 40,000 mink were released from their cages at Lion Farms USA Mink Farm. An incoming shift of workers noticed what had taken place, he said.

After an employee-led roundup, an estimated 10,000 mink remained unaccounted for as of 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to Riggenbach.

"The farm property located a large amount of the animals still on the property today," he said. "They were outside of the buildings."

The matter is being investigated as a case of breaking-and-entering and vandalism.

"We're not going to speculate on anything," Riggenbach said when asked about a motive or possible involvement of animal rights activists. "We are following the information that we have received at the initial reporting this morning, being on the scene and information that has come in throughout the day today."

Riggenbach urges anyone with information about the incident to call the sheriff's office at 419-238-3866.

"I do believe today's incident will bring a heightened awareness to other locations that have large scale operation farms," Riggenbach said.

A similar but much smaller-scale incident occurred at Lion Farms USA Mink Farm some years back.

"We had a similar situation over nine years ago at this farm where a considerably less number of mink were released," Riggenbach said.

With the possible intentional release of mink in neighboring Van Wert County, Mercer County Sheriff Jeff Grey was asked if any additional precautions have been taken concerning Schmitt Fur Farms in Fort Recovery.

"We have been in contact with Schmitt," Grey confirmed, declining to elaborate further on the nature of call.  

The mink that escaped from Lion Farms USA Mink Farm are considered domesticated livestock, Riggenbach said. They generally will not survive in the wild because they lack natural survival skills, he noted in a news release.

"Obviously it (the mink escape) poses a risk because of the sheer number potentially of these animals but I think it's hard to really know that, in the short term especially, because we don't know how they're going to respond, what they're going to do," he said.

Though these are cage-raised animals, the instinct to hunt for food is embedded in their DNA, Riggenbach added.

"I think there's a greater risk to other animals than necessarily to people but I certainly wouldn't encourage anyone to approach these to try to trap them themselves," he said.

If people spot a mink, the safest route is to call Lion Farms or an experienced, licensed trapper, Riggenbach pointed out.

Riggenbach said property owners have the right to protect their property, including animals and pets.

"Individuals are reminded that discharging a firearm in municipal areas can be in violation of law," Riggenbach said in the release.

His office has received many calls about trapping and shooting.

"Property owners meeting the hunting license exemption may hunt or trap a fur-bearing animal on his or her own lands without a fur taker permit," he said in the release.

Ohio State Patrol, Paulding County Sheriff's Office, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Emergency Management Agency and Ohio Department of Transportation are assisting with the investigation, per the release.