• Germany edition
Photo: DPA

Mob of marauding minks snacking on woodland creatures

Published: 19 Mar 10 11:19 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20100319-25981.html

Thousands of minks are marauding through the Brandenburg countryside, killing chickens and woodland creatures after suspected animal activists released thousands from a fur farm.

Police said they are still searching for those responsible for the break-in at the farm in Frankenförde, which resulted in the release of 4,000 minks last Sunday evening.

About 2,000 of the weasel-like carnivores have been captured, but the other half have been snacking freely on local farm fowl, wild birds and other small animals, police reported.

Meanwhile the mink farm owner Alfons Grosser has filed charges for €180,000 in property damage and unlawful entry while saying there was no way to measure the impact to the region's ecosystem.

According to Grosser, the rampaging pack of mink requires about one tonne of food in just three days.

German nature protection association (NABU) said the release of so many mink is an environmental catastrophe.

DDP/The Local (news@thelocal.de)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Fark It! Digg This  Share everywhere
Send to a friend Printable version Twitter This

Your comments about this article:

11:59 March 19, 2010 by Edmond Schindler
Catchy title, no pun intended. Cute little marauding murdering minks I must say.
12:23 March 19, 2010 by Clapoti
Idiotic activists not fully thinking before doing something like that.
12:46 March 19, 2010 by AirForceGuy
Hopefully, one of the (soon to be) rabid minks will bite a well-meaning animal activist and all will be fine...
14:06 March 19, 2010 by Frenemy
That one looks more like a domesticated ferret (Mustela p. furo) than a clothing/fashion variety mink (Mustela lutreola).

...they make for fun pets (maybe some of 'em will be adopted)
04:00 March 20, 2010 by Cincinnatus
Is there a market for coats made of animal activist pelts?
09:27 March 20, 2010 by girlsforscience
Oh no! Theyre going to have to do something about it. Trapping? Hunting? Baiting? I think this is very unfortunate.
14:32 March 20, 2010 by Bruno53
Good example to show the stupidity of the animal rights idiots we got. Hope they try "to save" the salt water crocodile in the Pacific. The crocodile would love to have them as lunch.
17:11 March 20, 2010 by Talonx
I'm not about to defend idiocy, which is why I would also like to damn the mink-fur industry, worthless redundant line of business that deserves criticism just as much as those few fools who let the minks run loose. I don't think it would be a stretch to say that mink farming is overall more harmful to the economy and environment than letting the minks run loose.
04:48 March 22, 2010 by petrag
Such fools! Tried to help animals and hurt so many in the process. Animals need smart allies!
07:55 March 22, 2010 by Zobirdie
As unPC as this is, I don't have an issue with wearing farmed animal coats. But I don't really like trapping wild creatures for fur. I eat farmed meat, I wear farmed leather and I could telll you things about the chemical processes in making many synthetic fabrics that would horrify. (many can't even be made in North America or Western Europe as they are so toxic!)

But in the case with minks, specifically... Minks killed a beloved family pet of my sisters, so I think it should be open season on the rotters. They didn't even eat him, they just ripped off his head and pulled of his feet. They really are nasty creatures. I can only imagine what they are doing to the creatures where they have been released.

I hope this fiasco makes the animal rights activists open their eyes. Or... maybe one of the minks will get them! :)
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Demonstration against the Syrian regime in Berlin. Photo: DPA

Syrian spy suspects arrested in Berlin

German police arrested two men in Berlin Tuesday accused of spying on opponents of the Syrian regime in raids involving some 70 officers, federal prosecutors said. READ »

Photo: DPA

Lost ancient artefacts found after 50 years

Nearly 50 ancient artefacts have been returned to the Bode Museum, Berlin, decades after being looted by Soviet soldiers. The find has sparked hope that more objects lost during the war will turn up. READ (2 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Frozen kraut jam leaves autobahn drivers sauer

An accident involving two trucks, a car and a large quantity of sauerkraut caused a 10-kilometre traffic jam on the A5 motorway in the German state of Hesse on Tuesday morning after the German delicacy froze solid on the road. READ (5 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Sex helps 'keep you young' in old age

Staying sexually active in old age keeps your brain ticking, according to a recent study in which 70 percent of those Germans over 75 said they were happy with their antics between the sheets. READ (7 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Hoeneß: Bayern saved Dortmund with €2 mln

With Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich battling it out for top spot in the German league title race, Bayern's Uli Hoeneß has revealed they loaned Dortmund €2 million to help save their rivals from bankruptcy. READ »

Photo: DPA

Virus lays low thousands of farm animals

Thousands of cows, sheep and goats have been infected with a flu-like virus across Germany, with the number of infected herds increasing sharply over the weekend. READ (8 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Germans jailed in UK for owning terrorist material

Two German men were jailed in Britain on Monday after pleading guilty to possessing articles from an al-Qaida magazine. READ (17 COMMENTS) »

Photo: DPA

Wulff case 'a chance to open up German politics'

As President Christian Wulff remains mired in allegations of impropriety, anti-corruption group Transparency International (TI) has called for politicians to use the case as a chance to open up German politics. READ »

More Society
Highlights
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
The economy in shambles, angry street protests and the government on the brink after passing unpopular reforms. But this is not Greece in 2012 – it was Germany a decade ago. Marc Young looks back to see an agenda for the future.
Photo: DPA
OPINION »
Germany’s public transportation largely operates on the honour system, which makes fare dodging easy. You can have your say on how Germany should deal with the problem.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
Macho German football legend Rudi Assauer says he has Alzheimer’s Disease, an admission one expert told The Local could help stoke discussion of an illness often considered taboo.
Photo: DPA
SOCIETY »
A 64-year-old tub of American lard has been deemed fit for human consumption by food safety authorities in the eastern German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Photo: Yves Gabriel
LIFESTYLE »
What's on in Germany: February 2 - 8
Photo: Columbia Pictures
LIFESTYLE »
The Local's English-language movie listings for Germany
Photo: DPA
LIFESTYLE »
As Hamburg’s legendary Reeperbahn strip gentrifies, Stephen Lowman reports how the city’s “sinful mile” is changing.
Photo: Bavarian International School
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A global education - a Bavarian community
Photo ECLA
SPONSORED ARTICLE
A truly international education at the heart of Berlin



See all ads | Join the Marketplace

Jobs in Germany, in English

1073 jobs available
681 new jobs this week
0 new jobs today

ALL JOBS »

Blog
Essentials

Dating
Looking for your own blonde bombshell? Or is the strong, silent type more your style? Find a German sweetheart here.

Weather
"After clouds comes clear weather," say the Germans. But what about after that? Find out in The Local's weather section.

Blog
German stuff that's distracting us today.

Noticeboard
Whether you want to buy, sell, hire, announce or promote something, here's the place to do it - completely free of charge.

Discuss
Debate the news, ask for advice, make friends - or just let off steam.

Search News


Register

Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss

REGISTER FOR FREE »

News from the Goethe-Institut
News from Young Germany
News from DeutschlandOnline

Toytown Germany
Germany's English-speaking crowd
English-speaking educators (native level)

Hotel reservations in Berlin
Visiting Berlin anytime soon? Book your hotel in Berlin here.
Rental apartments in Berlin
For home-from-home holiday accommodation, search for a Berlin apartment to rent.
Trade CFDs with InterTrader.com
Start trading shares, equities, forex, etc. No commission on equities; Low min. margins. Apply for a CFDs account now!