Summit County mink farms on alert after suspicious activity

Summit County sheriff's deputies and the FBI are keeping a closer eye on mink ranches in the area after receiving numerous reports of suspicious activity.

Sheriff Dave Edmunds said mink ranchers have reported cars with out-of-state license plates with people who appear to be casing their farms.

"Suspicious people have been up here asking about how many mink they have, exactly what goes on at the operation," Edmunds told the Deseret News on Tuesday. "I think there's been at least one instance where individuals have approached a farmer. Others have stopped and talked with people in town. Clearly, it's very suspicious."

Authorities are on alert after the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility for a pair of mink farm raids in Kaysville and South Jordan. Thousands of minks were released from pens; fences and equipment were vandalized.

FBI Special Agent Juan Becerra said they were aware of the reports of suspicious activity in Summit County.

"We know they're still very, very active and we're definitely looking at that," he said Tuesday.

The FBI has branded the ALF a domestic terrorist organization. Animal rights activists have reported being questioned in recent weeks, though they deny any affiliation with ALF. Becerra would not say if the FBI has identified any suspects in the case.

In recent weeks, a list of fur farms, their addresses and notes on the facilities and their owners has been circulated on the Internet. Utah has the second most mink farms among the states. The industry group Fur Commission USA calls it a "hit list," and said its lawyers have looked at getting it taken off of Web sites.

Because they are a regular target, Fur Commission USA encourages fur farmers to be vigilant.

"We run a classic neighborhood watch across the country," said commission executive director Teresa Platt. "People call in license plates, anything that makes them feel uncomfortable and that goes to the FBI."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com