Vandals free more than 10,000 minks

SONDERVIG, Denmark, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- More than 10,000 mink escaped from Danish farms targeted by fence-destroying vandals, authorities say.

Police said 6,000 mink escaped from a farm near Sondervig after vandals destroyed the fences surrounding the property Tuesday night and a similar case of fence destruction at a Fousing farm Thursday allowed nearly 5,000 mink to get away, The Copenhagen Post reported Friday.

Investigators said they believed the two incidents are related but they had not yet determined whether animal rights activists were behind them.

Sander Jakobsen of the fur breeder's association Pelsdyravlerforeningen said about 100 mink breeders and hunters have been chasing the animals that got loose Tuesday. He said about 3,000 mink have been killed and many of the recaptured animals are likely to die from stress in the coming days.

Jakobsen said the fur from each mink is worth about $29. He said the lost minks from the Sondervig farm were insured. It was not clear Friday whether the Fousing farm minks were covered.