It is precisely this reputation — along with surreptitious photos the group members, garbed in ominous black face masks, posted on the Web site — that has family members fearful. The family is working on ways to improve farm security and keep it running.

"I'm not saying what kind (of methods)," said the woman interviewed Thursday, "in case they get your newspaper and read about it. But we've talked about doing something in the way of (a security system); we want to catch these terrorists."

The group calls its activities "monkey-wrenching" because it disrupts business operations that allow a company to turn a profit.

The group will stop its illicit activities only when society ends its use and consumption of animals or their products — including milk, honey and eggs, according to Hankins.

When asked what the business could do to keep the organization from returning, Hankins said, "I don't know if there is anything they can do short of closing down and shutting up shop.

"It's definitely an extreme position," she admitted. "But animals are treated like a commodity, and until it stops, I imagine these acts will continue."

Jerry Vlasak, another spokesman for the group, said he and Hankins don't know the people who claim to have broken in, and "I don't want to know." But he agrees with what they have done, calling the perpetrators courageous for risking their liberty for the cause of animals.

Vlasak considers himself a liaison between the media and a noble underground activity. He receives e-mails and other information from "unknown" sources to pass on.

Vlasak and Hankins believe the group members are likely from out of town and are older than people might imagine.

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Contributing: Associated Press

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E-mail: jhancock@desnews.com