More Medford area news: A permit has been issued for construction of a new fur farm in Goodrich, Wisconsin; east of Medford. And the applicant appears to be an established Medford fur farmer David Dittrich, opening a new farm. The name and location of the upcoming farm appears to be: A&M Dittrich Mink Farm Martin Drive & Faber Lane NE corner Goodrich WI 50089    ...

The media this week reported a Medford, Wisconsin man was sentenced to 1 year for defrauding banks. Prior to his arrest, Michael Kraus reportedly purchased a mink farm in Medford. Fearing that he may default on his many fraudulently-obtained loans, Kraus reportedly purchased the farm in an effort to stay solvent. Sometime after 2007, the ranch “failed under a poor manager Kraus hired”, according to the media report. Kraus’s name is not found on any fur farm list, and it is not known what fur farm in Medford he owned. There are eight known mink farms in and around Medford, and at one time it was known as the “mink capital of the...

In mid-2010, the Ylipelto Fur Farm near Astoria was reported by media reports to be closed. There is evidence the farm may be reopening. According to the Oregon Secretary of State website, Ylepelto Fur Farm reinstated its business license in 2013, and renewed it’s license in February 2014. This contradicts claims the farm has closed, as well as satellite images which show that sheds at the property have been dismantled. A second address is listed on the business license: 40822 Galloway Ln. Astoria, OR. The conflicting information raises four possibilities: The farm has not reopened, but plans to in the near future. The farm has reopened at an unknown location. The farm has reopened at it’s previous location, and this is not reflected in the most recent satellite images. Or, the business license is simply a false flag and the family remains out of the fur farming business altogether. If you have any information on this fur farm, please submit to whistleblower{at}coalitionagainstfurfarms{dot} com....

The Autio company near Astoria continues to operate. An Oregon fur farm supply company fell off most fur farm lists years ago, however a recent article confirms it is still very much in operation. According to the “Coast River Business Journal,” the Autio Company continues to operate with 14 employees and over $1 million in revenue at its manufacturing facility in Brownsmead, Oregon (between Astoria and Portland). The article stops short of explicitly confirming the company still produces feed carts for fur farms. The article does emphasize the company’s fur farming origins, that it sits on the site of a former fur farm, and that its original product was a fur farm feed cart. The company also supplies companies such as Pacific Seafoods, Foster Farms, Gerber baby foods, and Friskies cat food. The company began solely as a mink farm supplier, and there is no evidence to suggest it does not continue in this capacity, providing feeding carts to fur...

For some time, the Gardner Fur Farm in Sublimity, Oregon has been confirmed  as imprisoning fox. A review of all the known fox farms on satellite images reveals that in all likelihood, it is the largest fox farm in the country. At various times, CAFF has reported two other fox farms as being contenders for the title of “largest fox farm.” They were: Aeschleman Fur Company (Roanoke, IL) Fox (and mink?) farm at:1498 N. 3975th Road (Earlville, IL) The Aeschleman farm was considered the largest as of the early-1990s, however this information is significantly dated. And after receiving further information, we believe there is a high likelihood the newly-discovered farm in Earlville IL holds both mink and fox, and that the sheds in question hold mink (the fox are held in outdoor pens). A new look at satellite images of the Gardner Fur Farm in Sublimity, Oregon show that it has a high likelihood of being the largest in the country. Hard numbers are very difficult to come by in an industry as small as fox farming, but the available information suggests strongly the Gardner Fur Farm is the largest fox farm in the...

This week a tipster reported a previously unknown fox farm west of Chicago. The address is: 1498 N. 3975th Road Earlville, IL 60518 Aerial images indicated many rows of sheds, in addition to the outdoor pens commonly seen at fox farms. It is not unusual for fox farms to have enclosed sheds, however a look at satellite images of this location reveals a number of sheds that may be unheard of at a US fox farm. Take a look: View Larger Map The outdoor pods are visible on the left, with numerous sheds occupying the rest of the property. There are two possibilities here: The sheds hold mink. The sheds hold fox, making this one of – if not the – largest fox farms in the US. Send any more specific information to whistleblower [at] coalitionagainstfurfarms [dot] com.  ...

According the media reports, a new mink farm is cleared to open at 800 East and Hwy 91 in Preston, Idaho. Despite concerns from residents (including that animal rights activists will “let the minks out”), construction will likely move forward. Preston is just miles from the Utah border, and is home to two other fur farms. This is the proposed location for the farm: View Larger...

Recently, a leaked document from the Fur Commission USA hinted that there may be an undiscovered mink farm in Sublimity, Oregon. This “security alert” (posted below) covers a suspicious vehicle seen near a mink farm “outside Sublimity.” The only known fur farm near Sublimity is believed to be a fox farm. Leaving two possibilities: The known fur farm (Gardner fur farm) has been mis-reported as a fox farm, and is in fact a mink farm. Or, there is a second, as-yet undiscovered fur farm near Sublimity. As always, please send any reports on this or other undiscovered fur farms to whistleblower [at] coalitionagainstfurfarms.com “Fur Commission USA Security Alert – Oregon August 7, 2013 Tuesday afternoon two vehicles were seen scouting a mink farm outside Sublimity Oregon. One vehicle was a [vehicle description redacted] with [redacted] license plates [plate # redacted]. The second vehicle was a [description redacted]. The two vehicles were parked together down the road from the farm, then moved to the farm driveway. After about 5 minutes, the suspects were approached, and fled. In light of the recent mink farm attack in Idaho, any suspicious behavior near your farm needs to be reported to police and Fur Commission USA. If either of these vehicles is spotted near your farm, make it clear to the occupants that you are aware of their presence, and call FCUSA. Distributed by, Michael Whelan Fur Commission USA...