Document from fur feed plant reveals weakness in fur industry

Posted below is a link to a letter from Dale Lawson of Northwest Farm Foods (formerly Northwest Fur Breeder’s Cooperative) in Burlington, Washington. The letter is to the FDA, challenging a proposed law that would raise the cost of manufacturing feed for mink farms. There are three significant pieces of information in this document, useful for anyone with a serious interest in dismantling the fur industry: 1) Feed is the largest cost associated with raising mink. 2) A significant increase in feed costs would “totally eliminate the mink industry in the United States”. 3) Phone numbers at the bottom of the document reveal two production plants that were unknown at the time this letter was made public (approx. 2 years ago): one plant in Cle Elum, WA; and another in Astoria, OR. The Cle Elum plant is no longer believed to be in operation. The Astoria plant is likely to still be in operation, and is also the location of the mink farm owned by Glade Wilkinson.Northwest Farm Foods Document View a PDF of the letter...

Two Possible Fox Farms in Virginia

Coalition Against Fur Farms has learned of two possible fox farms in Virginia. To date, the only known fox farm in the state was owned by Scott Dean, in Elkton VA. The following addresses are associated with live trapping of foxes. Trappers will live trap foxes for one of many purposes, including fur. It is also possible foxes trapped are sold to live penning operations, where foxes are used to train hunting dogs. However it cannot be ruled out these are fur farms, and both are likely to have animals on-site. Jerry Pangle 21693 Dovesville Road Bergton, VA 22811-2210 Steve Colvin 2000 SB Road Barboursville, VA...

New Fur Farms Addresses: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin

The following fur farms have been discovered and added to FinalNail.com. This makes over 150 new fur farms that have been discovered so far in 2012. Please distribute widely, and submit any new information to whistleblower [at] coalitonagainstfurfarms [dot] com. Paul Durkop 1429 185th Avenue Lost Nation, IA 52254 Phone: (563) 678-2895 or (563) 219-2835 Notes: Fox farm. Located south of 140th Street. T & A Mink Farm 3209 240th Avenue Titonka, IA 50480 Phone: (515) 928-2360 Contact: Tom & Amy Higgins Geri Van Elderen 1540 6th Street Martin, MI 49070 Phone: (269) 672-2115 Contact: Geri & Sheri Van Elderen Notes: Mink farm. Farm may be closed (investigation needed). Ryan Fur Farm 21341 County 19 Spring Grove, MN 55974 Phone: (507) 498-3770 or (507) 429-0070 Contact: Erin Ryan Notes: Mink farm. Bill & Sandy Peterson 6682 Hospital Road Burlington, WI 53105 Phone: (262) 763-5623 Notes: Fox farm. Eric & Rebecca Zuleger N7975 Zimmerman Road Westboro, WI 54490 Phone: (715) 427-1002 Notes: Fox farm. Located at southwest corner of Zimmerman Road (NF-101) and Rindt Road (NF-564). fur farm Foundry Road New Holstein, WI 53061 Notes: Mink farm. Located at southeast corner of Foundry Road and County Road A. Thomas F. Hawe N2594 Blueberry Lane Waldo, WI 53093 Phone: (920) 528-8388 Notes: Mink farm. Tom Hawe died in July 2012. Farm may be closed (investigation...

Montana Bobcat Farm Confirmed Closed

Cole McPherson’s bobcat farm is reported to be empty. Montana is notorious for its wildcat farms, which imprison more bobcat and lynx than any state in the country. In addition to the Fraser Fur Farm (the US’s largest lynx farm), at least a dozen other farms in the state are licensed to imprison bobcat and lynx. Very little is known about these farms, and most of their addresses have yet to be exposed. Coalition Against Fur Farm has received a report about one such farm: The bobcat farm owned by Cole McPherson in Lolo, Montana. The report states that there are no longer animals on the property, and that the farm is believed to be closed. McPherson still maintains a wildlife holder’s permit with the state of Montana, and it cannot be ruled out that McPherson maintains this permit for a reason – if not for bobcats, then for another species. Please submit at information to whistleblower [at] coalitionagainstfurfarms [dot]...

1986 article on the largest fox farm in the country

1986 article on the largest fox farm in the country

A 1986 article gives details on the Aeschleman fox farm in Illinois. A 1990s PETA undercover investigation on an Illinois fox farm is today the best (and most horrific) footage ever obtained on fur farm. It showed the electrocution of foxes, foxes living in squalorous conditions, and badly sick and injured animals living in small cages. Today, that fox farm is still in operation. The Aeschleman fox farm, outside Peoria, Illinois, imprisons an estimated 1,000 foxes. At one time, it was said to be the largest fox farm in the country (and may still be). The below article was published in the Chicago Tribune in 1986. It goes into the history of the farm, as well as many details into fox farming – an industry shrouded in secrecy. The article reads, in full: ROANOKE, ILL. — Soybeans and corn are the primary products of Woodford County farmers, most of whom are in the fields now. Not Dan Aeschleman. While his neighbors plant, he pours. Yipping calls of the wild and a pungent musk odor burst through the seams of a 150-foot-long metal building on Aeschleman`s farm about 130 miles southwest of Chicago. In the dim light that seeps into the barn, an elevated thicket of wire mesh cages is visible. Each cage contains at least one set of wary, luminous eyes. “You`ll have to be quiet, if they get excited, they might kill their young,“ warned Aeschleman`s wife, Soni. The caged animals are silver, amber, pearl and “bastard red“ foxes bred for their color and coat texture. There are about 150 adults here and hundreds of uncounted young curled, kittenlike, in boxed dens. Aeschleman, 37, hopes to have about 600 foxes by the end of the breeding season. He normally would kill and pelt many of them for their fur. But this year, he is more interested in their flow. “With the urine business peaking now, I probably won`t be pelting this year,“ he said. “We need to keep the foxes to generate urine.“ These days, there is less demand for nature`s coats than for nature`s call; especially as answered by old Reynard. The animal`s effluent is valued by trappers and hunters, who use...