Local media is reporting that last year, Wisconsin fur farmers killed 1.1 million mink. That is a full 19% more than 2010 – a huge increase. Wisconsin remains the largest fur farming state in the country, with over 70 mink farms.

In sheer number of mink farms, Franklin, Idaho is near the top of the list. What is also exceptional about the town is that many of the farms are “micro-farms”, backyard operations that appear to house less than a few thousand mink (very small by current mink farming standards). Most of these farms are clustered in a residential area that doubles as downtown Franklin (less than a mile from the Utah border). The name and specific address of one of these farms was a mystery, but recently Coalition Against Fur Farm has obtained specifics: WHITEHEAD MINK RANCH, LLC Owner: JERRY WHITEHEAD 205 S 200 E FRANKLIN, ID 83237 View the business filing with the state of Idaho here....

Coalition Against Fur Farms has received a report about a possible fur farm first reported in The Blueprint 2010 Supplement. The farm was reported as having lynx and bobcats. Both of these animals command more money as pets than they would for their pelts; and most bobcat and lynx farms breed the animals for pets, not fur. The report states that the animals on the George Lentz farm in Kalispell, Montana appear to be extremely domesticated. The cages are said to be very close to Whitefish Stage Road. There are six bobcat and two lynx held at the farm, and it is believed they are being raised for pets. The farm in question is: George Lentz 1920 Whitefish Stage Road Kalispell, MT 59901 Notes: Bobcat and lynx...

Coalition Against Fur Farms has received a report that United Farms in Graham, WA imprisons more than mink – they have a wolf. The report states that a large pen on the edge of the property holds a female breeding wolf. This is the farm that was reported in an old fur farming magazine to, at one time, imprison “twelve species of fur bearing animals”. It is not known the extent of the species currently held at United Farms, however this confirms the farm has an interest in exotic species. Presently, only mink and the wolf are confirmed to be at the farm. Submit any more info on United Farms to whistleblower [at]...

Relatively recently, Dr. Austin Larsen took over veterinary research duties at the Fur Breeder’s Agricultural Cooperative based in Sandy, Utah. As detailed in an earlier post, that plant is closed after a fire, and it is not known how this has affected research operations (the property also has feed research facilities that may or may not still be in operation). The FBAC has an additional plant in Logan, Utah. A previous head vet at the feed plant was imprisoned for child...

These addresses were recently added to www.finalnail.com. The Coalition Against Fur Farms site exists, in part, to track all changes and updates to this site. Recent additions: North Star Fur & Trading 12515 Morris Trail Marine on Saint Croix, MN 55047 Phone: (651) 433-2803 Fax: (651) 433-2804 Web: www.northstarfur.com Contact: Jim Rosenwald, Jon-Paul Rosenwald Notes: Wild fur buyer. Manufactures “ranch mink handling gloves”; advertises in fur industry publications. Chuck LaCourt N2795 Shore Drive Marinette, WI 54143 Contact: Charles & Sharon LaCourt Notes: Located north of Rader Road. Entrance to farm is just south of the Shore Crest bar. Whalen Foods Inc. 584 Bavaria Lane, Suite 200 Chaska, MN 55318 Phone: (866) 547-6510 or (952) 368-6077 Fax: (866) 432-3189 or (952) 368-6046 Web: www.whalenfoodsinc.com Notes: Supplies ingredients for mink feed; advertises in fur industry publications. Wayne A. Sieverding 36414 130th Street Dundee, MN 56131 Phone: (507) 425-3205 Contact: Wayne & MaryAnn Sieverding Notes: Fox farm. Located at the end of 130th Street, on West Graham Lake. Autumn River Fur Farm W5379 Eagle Road Juneau, WI 53039 Phone: (920) 386-2990 Contact: Mike & Marion Mclay, David McLay Notes: Mink farm. Located 1/2 mile west of State Hwy. 115, south side of...