Follow Up: Leads Cold on Mink Release Investigation

EDEN VALLEY -- We continue with our series of follow-up stories on WJON we're calling "Whatever happened with that?". Today we're updating you on the latest in the mink release investigation. 

An Eden Valley mink farm took a large hit this summer after thousands of mink were released from the Lang Farm LLC.

Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmunson says a person or group of people took apart the exterior fence that surround the barns and released roughly 59,000 mink from their cages back on July 16th.

Stearns County Investigator Mark Micks says the farm now has about 8,500 mink estimating a total loss of roughly 50,000 mink and $750,000. He adds they received a number of tips after the incident, however, all leads ran cold by the end of July and no new information has surfaced.

The Sheriff’s Office says the case remains active and they continue to listen to new leads.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered by Tri-County Crime Stoppers and $10,000 reward by the Fur Commission USA for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Calls to the Lang Farm have gone unanswered.