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Activist Index
Operation Bite Back-Part I
Fact Sheet
The Animal Liberations Front's, Operation Bite Back part I began in the early 90's and was directed mainly at
fur research facilities and feed suppliers. Operation Bite Back Part II
was from '95 and is still active while primarily focusing on fur farms.
Operation Bite Back started with the knowledge that mink are native to
North America, and are not domesticated on fur farms. This knowledge
was produced mainly from extensive research conducted by now-imprisoned A.L.F. activist Rod
Coronodo. Rod and others began this research in
1990 with the Coalition Against Fur Farms (CAFF) which rehabilitated 60 mink
two bobcats, and two lynx from a closed fur farm.
This study showed that mink are able to hunt for food, reproduce, and
successfully survive in their natural habitat-if given the chance.
Animals on fur farms have little to no human contact except for when
they are killed or vivisected. Anal electrocution, neck snapping,
poisoning, suffocation and being skinned alive are all routine methods
for killing the animals.
This allows for them to keep their natural instincts to survive in the
wild, along with the fact they have only been imprisoned on fur
farms for a few generations. Mink farms started in the 1900's, but most
closed during World War I. so, it wasn't until the 1930's, that mink
were taken out of the wild for breeding purposes.
Ecologically, mink and other natural predators fit nicely into the
ecosystem that surround them. Most other predators have been decimated
by humans, which leaves an opportunity for mink to assist in natural
predator control.
Highlights of Operation Bite Back - Part I
The Malecky Mink Ranch processing plant closes from arson in
1991. Literally countless other actions help decimate the fur industry
to near extinction. While this list represents some of the larger actions,
it's important to remember that smaller actions against the fur industry took
place across North America almost every week. The majority of actions includes
locks glued, and messages etched on windows. These next actions show the high
price the fur industry is made to pay for exploiting animals. Two animal abusers
have been closed after effective A.L.F. actions.
June 10, 1991 - Corvalis, OR; Oregon State University Experimental Fur Farm, files & videotapes were removed, equipment destroyed and slogans spray painted on the walls. Timed incendiary devices were left in a supply barn, which ignited destroying one barn and damaging another. $150,000 damage. They are now CLOSED after this successful
A.L.F. action.
June 15, 1991 - Edmonds, WA; Northwest Fur Farm Foods Cooperative the feed producer for fur farms across the Northwest is entered, slogans spray painted on walls and incendiary devices left. They ignited early in the morning causing over $1,000,000 in damage. They are now CLOSED after this successful
A.L.F. action.
August 13, 1991 - Pullman, WA; Washington State University, Bustard Hall had two offices of Dr. John Gorham broken into [where files were removed. Computers, equipment, and files were destroyed with messages spray painted]. Also the USDA's Wildlife Biology Furbearer Research Facility was entered by cutting fences and padlocks, slogans were spray painted. Six mink, seven coyotes, and ten mice are liberated. $150,000 damage.
December 21, 1991 - Yamhill, OR; A timed incendiary device ignites at Malecky Mink Ranch processing plant causing extensive damage, closing it for good. $125,000 damage.
February 27, 1992 - East Lansing, MI; Michigan State University Experimental
Fur Farm was broken into, two mink liberated and later released. The Anthony Hall office of Richard Aulerich was broken into, files were removed, slogans spray painted and an incendiary device was left which ignited. $200,000 damage.
October 24, 1992 - Logan, UT; USDA Predator Research Station, 29 coyotes released and one building set on fire. Slogans spray painted. $600,000 damage.
October 24, 1992 - Millville, UT; Head researcher Frederick Knowlton's office on campus is broken into, files taken and a incendiary devices left which ignite. $10,000 damage.
But this was only the beginning...
Operation Bite Back Part II was around the corner...
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