On July 17th at 5:36 a.m. the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a burglary/vandalism report at Lang Farms LLC, two and a half miles northwest of Eden Valley. Lang Farms LLC raises mink for pelts.
Between 10:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. unknown person or persons entered the property. Once on the property they dismantled areas of the exterior fence that surrounds the barns and released all the mink from their cages. Approximately 30,000 – 40,000 mink were released. The value of the loss is estimated at over $750,000.00.
Because these mink were domesticated they will not survive in the wild, though some mink may survive initially and may be loose in the area. If residents see any mink loose in the area, they are asked not to approach them because they may bite. Lang Farms LLC asked that residents call them so that they may be recaptured by experienced mink handlers. Please call Lang Farms at (320) 453-4750 and leave a message if any mink are sighted in the area.
The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office has notified the Minnesota Duty Officer and our State and Federal Law Enforcement partners. This release took place adjacent to a wildlife management area and a wilderness preservation area. The release of predatory domestic animals will have a negative impact on the surrounding native wildlife population.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office at 320-251-4240 or Tri-County Crimestoppers at 1-800-255-1301. Tri-County Crimestoppers offers a reward of up to $1,000.00 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in criminal matters.
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