What to think of mink situation

SANDUSKY — With thousands of domestic mink on the loose in northwestern Ohio, one local state expert believes they neither pose a threat to public safety nor should stray far from their original homesite. In other words, those who live in and around Erie County shouldn't worry about the situation. On Tuesday, a vandalism act freed thousands of mink at a farm in Van Wert County, which abuts the Indiana border, according to The Associated Press. Various media reports nationwide estimate the number of small mammals escaping is between 10,000 and 40,000. CNN further reported some have been "corralled by employees." Kevin Newsome, a law enforcement operations manager for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, described these particular mink as "domesticated." This means they're tamer compared to their wildlife counterparts. "It's not like these mink are accustomed to hunting. They are used to having food provided to them," Newsome told the Register. "But they are carnivores. If someone has a chicken farm nearby, it might be a problem. But we are dealing with domestic animals that have never had to provide food for themselves. I really don't think this is going to be a big issue." On Thursday, a social media post circulated through locals' news feeds, referring to this very situation. It claimed minks "are very aggressive. They are gonna be on the hunt for food. Your dogs, chickens other farm animals, even humans are not safe from them." This caused many people to fear for the well-being of themselves and their pets. Newsome quelled those concerns, calling the statement a massive exaggeration. "The chances of them getting anywhere near Sandusky is zero," Newsome said. "I don't see how they would make it that far. Especially this weekend, with the cold temperatures, people shouldn't worry about them being a threat to public safety." Authorities do urge people to not approach mink and, instead, contact the state wildlife office upon encountering one. People can call the department at 800-945-3543 to report a problem.