As many as 8,000 mink escaped after escaping from a Pennsylvania farm – posing a serious threat to wildlife and pets in the community.
An unknown vandal crept into a Rockefeller Township wool farm between midnight and 7 a.m. Sunday to cut a hole in the fence surrounding the barn, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Between 6,000 and 8,000 mink rushed out of their enclosures and into the forest community, about 85 miles northwest of Allentown.
A prison break sparks an intense search involving multiple agencies in a race against time to recapture the fox.
The little critter is known as one of the state’s “most efficient predators,” according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
“They are agile and fierce fighters, killing their prey with a hard bite to the back of the skull,” the government said.
Their preferred foods include mice, rats and muskrats and are also known to hunt rabbits, chickens and fish – but will take anything they can find.
“In general, mink are opportunistic, feeding on whatever is easiest to catch or find,” PGC said.
As many as 8,000 mink are on the loose after vandals cut a hole in a Rockefeller Township Pennsylvania farm fence.Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Because of their aggressive nature, Sunbury Animal Hospital is warning residents not to approach the mink.
“If a mink approaches you stay away from it. Keep all pets inside if possible. Monitor your pets when they are outside,” the hospital said on Facebook.
“If anyone traps a mink, it can be taken to the animal hospital, dead or alive. Again do not approach this animal or try to catch it with your hands.”
An unknown vandal crept into a Rockefeller Township wool farm between midnight and 7 a.m. Sunday to cut a hole in the fence surrounding the barn, according to Pennsylvania State Police.Getty Images
Some of the mink have been found, but rescuers have yet to make a dent in the township’s fleeing population.
The issue is so dire that state Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (B) and Rep. State Rep. Michael Stender (R) established a hotline to speed up mink hunting.
Police are still looking for the offender or perpetrators, who will be charged with agricultural-related crimes.
Between 6,000 and 8,000 mink rushed out of their enclosures and into the forest community, about 85 miles northwest of Allentown. Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Last year 10,000 mink were released in similar circumstances after vandals destroyed fences around an Ohio farm.
Most of the animals are killed by speeding cars before they can enjoy their new freedom.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
