Iowa mink release sparks eco-crisis and federal terrorism law debate

Iowa farmers are racing against time to recapture nearly 2,000 mink released in a suspected anti-fur protest, an act condemned by the Fur Commission USA as a "terrorist act" under federal law, according to a Fortune report. The breach occurred between Monday night and Tuesday morning at a mink farm near Woodbine, Iowa, approximately 100 miles west of Des Moines, where intruders cut fencing and destroyed pens to free the animals raised for their pelts. By Friday morning, just over 60% of the mink had been recovered, but farm operators warned that the remaining animals face a high risk of death within 24–48 hours due to lack of food, water, and shelter.

The incident has reignited debates over animal rights activism and the economic impact of mink farming. The Fur Commission USA, which represents U.S. mink producers, stated that one to two similar releases occur annually, typically driven by anti-fur advocates. "Releasing captive-raised mink into the wild does the exact opposite of what they intend—it harms the animals and disrupts local ecosystems," said Challis Hobbs, the group's executive director. The released mink have already attacked and killed ducks and geese on the farm, compounding the farmer's losses.

Federal law defines such actions as terrorism under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (AETA), which criminalizes acts intended to "impede or ruin" animal enterprises. Hobbs noted that previous mink releases have led to charges under this law, though no arrests have been made in this case as of Friday. Harrison County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Todd Denton declined to comment on the investigation, and the farmer, through Hobbs, refused interviews.

The U.S. mink farming industry, while smaller than its peak, remains economically significant. There are approximately 275 mink farms across 23 states, producing around 3 million pelts annually valued at over $300 million, the Fortune report said. However, production has declined over the past decade, with 771,000 pelts generated in 2024 alone. Animal rights groups, including the Animal Legal Defense Fund, argue that mink farming is inhumane and pose public health risks, citing links to disease outbreaks like avian influenza.

Farmers are now deploying live traps and working in shifts to recover the animals, but the window for success is narrowing. "Time is running out," Hobbs said. "The longer these mink remain in the wild, the more likely they are to perish—or become a threat to native wildlife and other livestock."