VAN WERT, Ohio — On Tuesday, more than 25,000 mink were set free after someone broke into a farm housing them. Officials are concerned that the mink could start attacking livestock, which is why law enforcement and residents are working together to tackle the issue.

Mink have been running around the Van Wert area since Tuesday, because someone broke into the Lion Farms USA and set them free from their cages.

Local resident Beverly Boyd saw one Wednesday. 

“Holy cow, they’re huge,” said Boyd. “They could do some damage, probably.”

Boyd and her husband were one of dozens of people working to help hunt them down. 

“He has his hunting license. He likes to shoot deer and stuff like that,” he said. “He’s been hunting deer, but he hasn’t caught one yet this year.”

Dozens of trappers have been out since Tuesday, hoping to find as many as possible. That’s because they’re carnivorous and authorities worry they would attack livestock.

“Yesterday, everybody was out and about chasing them down, killing them,” Boyd said. “We had roadkill on the road. And I was driving to work, and I was like what is going on. I thought it was birds or something. Come to find out they were minks.”

One trapper said that as of Wednesday, 5,000-6,000 mink are still unaccounted for.

Police have not identified a suspect behind the release.

Spectrum News found several animal rights groups, inlcuding Farm Transparency Project, Green Matters and Direct Action Everywhere, have posted criticism of the farm online. The farmer had not responded to a request for comment as of Wednesday afternoon. But Boyd said she’s willing to help.

“Yeah, I would,” she said. “I mean, they’re in a factory farm for a reason.”