The RCMP are investigating what they believe is a case of sabotage at a Newfoundland mink farm, where as many as 6,000 of the furry creatures escaped from their cages early Saturday.
A motorist alerted police to the high numbers of the animals on a road in Harcourt. The farm is located between that community and George's Brook.
RCMP Const. Trevor O'Keefe said the release was an act of sabotage.
"There's a number of barns at this farm and the minks that were released were at three of the barns and they have hundreds of cages, and in order for these animals to get out somebody had to go in and release the latches on all these cages," O'Keefe said.
The last time a worker was at the farm was 10:30 p.m. on Friday. The
animals were let out of their cages sometime after that, according to
O'Keefe, who added there was no sign of forced entry to the farm.
Police said there is no reason for local people to be worried about the free-roaming animals.
"We've been advised they pose no danger, but now we are advising people that if they happen to see one in the yard, certainly don't go over and try and capture it themselves."
Related
Video
- Peter Gullage reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:03)
- Play: Real Media »
- Play: QuickTime »
MORE NFLD. & LABRADOR HEADLINES »
- Williams feels Labrador heat on energy issues
- A campaign stop in Labrador on Tuesday put Progressive Conservative Leader Danny Williams on the defensive over his government's handling of energy issues.
- Paid with crack cocaine, teen says in accused pimp's trial
- A former teenage prostitute told a St. John's courtroom of her life across the street — but a world away — as she testified against the man accused of being her pimp.
- Nurses grill health minister over job, wage woes
- Newfoundland and Labrador nurses put the province's health minister on the hot seat at a forum Tuesday and then heard a promise that rewards are in the wings after years of tough contracts.
- Bear cub in a bathtub: Officers nab housebound animal
- Two bear cubs wandered into a Springdale, Nfld. home on Saturday, alarming a woman who managed to escape and seek help at a neighbour's house.
- Terra Nova workers stage protest over catering switch
- Several dozen workers aboard a production vessel at an oilfield off Newfoundland's east coast refused to report for work Wednesday morning.
Canada Features
Blog Watch
Read what bloggers are saying about this article
Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - link will open in new window
