The summer hunting (and sabbing) season is now under way, with a number of hunt sab groups stopping the Dove Valley Mink Hounds in Staffordshire on Saturday.
The Dove Valley Mink Hounds had planned to terrorise wildlife along the River Blithe in Staffordshire, meeting at Field Hall Farm near Uttoxeter.
The hunt set off from the meet and headed to the river, but unbeknown to them sabs from Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs, Manchester Hunt Sabs, Sheffield Hunt Sabs and West Yorkshire Hunt Saboteurs had already located them.
As sabs descended on the hunt, the huntsman could clearly be heard encouraging the hounds on.
But quickly surrounded by approximately 20 sabs, and with a drone up above, true to form they rounded up the pack and scurried back in the direction of the meet.
Sabs escorted the hunt, who were equipped with spades and poles to aid them in their illegal hunting of mink, back to Field Hall Farm where their very short outing came to an end.
Sabs stuck around to make sure they’d left, and then paid a visit to the hunt kennels to make sure the hound van had got home safely. Another satisfying and successful day for sabs and for wildlife!
The mink hunting season takes place between April and October, and is the secretive summer pastime of fox and hare hunting fanatics. It has its roots in otter hunting, and, as well as mink, otters are also still very much a target of some packs. The hunts also cause damage and destruction to fragile riverside habitats.
Do you have any information on your local Mink Hunt? Then please contact your local sab group or the HSA via the anonymous TIP OFF HOTLINE: 07443 148 426 .
We are the only organisation that works directly in the field to save wildlife through direct action.
