Coalition Against Fur Farms has learned that a mink vaccine and research facility in Nebraska is still in operation, is still providing support to the fur industry, and is still doing research on live mink. This location was listed in The Blueprint fur farm list, however its operational status was in question. Included in that entry was an anonymous report received from someone who had visited the facility. The report stated there were no mink sheds visible on the outside of the property, but that it was still possible there were experiments being done on mink indoors. The USDA paper trail went cold in 1999, and until recently, there were no USDA reports available for the facility. Recently, two new reports were obtained by the group Stop Animal Exploitation Now that show there is still mink research being performed on site (see scan of USDA report below). They show that 405 mink were held at the facility in 2008, and 158 in 2009. Even more info on this facility: On page 2 of the Spring 2012 issue of The Fur Farm Letter, there is an article about mink vaccine production at Merck, in which it is confirmed they continue to do vaccine research on live mink “This is primarily due to the need to use live animals (mink) in the final test studies. Merck only has one source for their test animals….” Formerly a Pfizer facility, it appears to have been bought out be another big pharma giant: Merck. Here is the updated info, as published on www.finalnial.com: Merck Animal Health Elkhorn Biotechnology Excellence Center 21401 W. Center Road Elkhorn, NE 68022 Web: www.merck-animal-health-usa.com Contact: Richard R. DeLuca Jr., President Notes: Supplies vaccines to fur farmers in North America; research and production...

Read Parker Dozhier’s “Fur Market Report” from the February 2011 issue of Trapper & Predator Caller. While it does not focus on fur farming, it is worth reading for insight into major weaknesses in the “wild fur” (trapping) industry. I have bolded the portions I think are significant. The column reads, in full: “Let’s face it: The marketing of raw fur has seen dramatic and significant changes during the last 25 years. Many of those reading this today would find it hard to believe during the ‘Boom’ years-between the mid-1970s until 1987– there were thousands of country fur buyers scattered across the country. Many states licensed more than 100 fur buyers each season. General stores, bait shops, farm supply outlets and even gas stations, often had signs hanging during season that said ‘Fur Wanted.’ Beyond the local fur buyers, there were scores of wild fur brokers in the New York fur district. These brokers had contacts with fur garment makers around the world. A country fur buyer, and in some cases even professional trappers, could ship to the broker and they were charged with negotiating between buyers and sellers. This system worked well. But sadly, this vital link of the fur trade has mostly disappeared. Some states, notably in the Southeast, do not have a single country fur buyer. Other states license fewer than 20. Our fur trade seemed to be crumbling from within. But fortunately, through shear determination, a few of these fur buyers hung on. Today, these country fur buyers serve the single most vital link in the flow of furs from producer to the ultimate consumer. Without them, the limited marketing opportunities would result in the complete collapse of the fur trade. From what I’ve seen at trapper fur auctions, visiting with fur buyers and trappers, the vast majority of fur sold today is either wet or ‘in the round.’  Most of the finished fur is sold by those who have been trapping for many years, often decades. That’s a diminishing number. How these buyers can bare the cost of traveling, running a collection route, attending fur auctions and then the labor of finishing a mountain of raw fur, and then...

According to the new book “The Fur Farms of Alaska”, the last fur farm in the state closed in 1993. It was said to be a fox farm called Whitestone Farms in Delta Junction, AK. The book also notes fur farming in Alaska was largely unregulated and lacking records, so it is possible smaller fur farms remain. Send any info to whistleblower [at]...

Recently, FinalNail.com posted the address of a previously unknown mink farm in Redmond, Washington. The farm is improbably located in an area with very high property values, in the same town as Microsoft’s headquarters. It is just three miles east of the Whole Foods, off the same large road. The Final Nail (.com) has this entry for the farm: Brick Road Fur Farm 19780 NE 55th Place (alt. 5616 196th Avenue NE) Redmond, WA 98053 Phone: (425) 868-4192 Contact: Blair Hudson Notes: Mink farm. There has been no confirmation on the operational status of the farm, but this week CAFF received a report of a protest at the farm coinciding with the Seattle Fur Exchange / American Legend auction happening just south, in Renton, Washington (the American Legend auction is the largest fur auction in the country, and sales there are a barometer of the overall health of the US fur industry). While the protest did not yield a definite confirmation of the farm, there was evidence to indicate the farm was open. The circumstantial evidence gathered from this protest was: 1) The farm posted “No Trespassing” signs in anticipation of the protest, an unlikely move for a fur farm that was no longer open. 2) Neighbors who spoke with the activists indicated the farm was open. 3) Police acted to block off possible access points to the sheds, indicating there was something back there to “protect”. The cumulative evidence suggests this farm is open. View an aerial image of the farm at this...

A large cluster of mink farms was discovered in Polar, Wisconsin, during research for the Fur Farm Intelligence Project. The information available indicated that most or all of these farms are owned by the Pavek family. Until this week, there was no solid information on the operational status of any of these farms, but we can confirm one of these farms was open as of late-2011: Omega Mink Ranch N3510 5th Avenue Road Polar, WI 54418 Phone: (715) 627-4842 or (715) 623-3586 Contact: Guy & Mary Pavek Notes: Mink farm. Located at southeast corner of 5th Avenue Road and Hwy. 64, east of the town of Polar. Thanks for www.finalnail.com for this...

The following information has been added to www.finalnail.com: B & P Thelen Ranch W830 Fur Farm Road New Holstein, WI 53061 Phone: (920) 286-0929 Contact: Brad & Paula Thelen Notes: Located next to Associated Fur Farms. There is evidence to suggest this farm was operational as of late-2011. It is not known if this farm is located next to, or across the street from, Associated Fur Farms. It is also possible it shares property with Associated Fur Farms. This fur farm is also located a short distance from this major fur feed supplier: National Pet Products (National Fur Foods) 1310 Milwaukee Drive New Holstein, WI 53061 Phone: (800) 558-5803 Fax: (920) 898-5424 Web: www.nationaldogfood.com Contact: Dré Sanders, Director, National Fur Foods Notes: Fur farm feed supplier; producers of fox and mink feed. Owned by Buschur Feeds (New Weston, OH).  ...

A blogger has posted photos he took inside the Jentzch Mink Farm, in Medford, Wisconsin. According to the poster, he was driving past the farm and stopped to talk with one of the workers, who showed him the inside of the farm. A member of the Jentzch family, Bruce Jentzsch, is also listed as a contact person for the nearby Central Mink Foods, a mink feed supplier for Wisconsin fur farms. These are the...

According to media reports, Smith Furs in Malta, Idaho intends to begin construction to double its size. This week, a permit was approved which will allow the owner, Cregg Smith, to expand his farm to 4,000 breeding mink and 24,000 pelting mink. Additional sheds and “a new shop” will be added to the existing six sheds. Finalnail.com has the following info for Smith Furs: Smith Furs 155 2nd Street West Malta, ID 83342 Phone: (208) 645-2316 Fax: (208) 645-2230 Contact: Cregg W. Smith, Carma Smith, Osmer Smith Notes: Located at end of service road, west of 2nd Street. Confirmed open (summer...