Police say intruders freed up to 40,000 minks, highly valued for their fur, from their cages at a farm in Richmond, Minnesota.
WJON reported that Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmonson said that someone or a group of people broke into Lang Mink Farm between 10:30 p.m. Sunday and 5:30 a.m. Monday. Gudmonson said parts of the farm's outside fence were taken apart and the animals were released from their cages.
The 30,000 to 40,000 minks that were released have a collective value of over $750,000, the Sheriff's Office told WCCO.
The public is advised to not approach the minks as they may bite. Instead, Gudmonson told WJON people should call Lang Farms at 320-453-4750, which may try to recapture them.
The Sheriff’s Office said the mink will struggle to survive in the wild because they are all domesticated. They may also threaten natural habitats in the area.
According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, mink are native to the area. Thousands are trapped in the state each fall by license trappers and the mink population "remains healthy," Minnesota DNR says.
Anyone with information leading to an arrest could get a reward of up to $1,000.
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