Ridglan Farms
EVENT SUMMARY
Location: Blue Mounds, Wisconsin
AETA File No. 266D-MW-2843592
Ridglan Farms was a breeding facility for beagles used in biomedical research. As part of the FDA Modernization Act 3.0, Ridglan Farms was scheduled to lose its USDA Class A dog breeder/USDA Class R research facility authorizations on July 1, 2026. In reaction to previous activist activity, a moat and barrel wall had been constructed around the facility.
On March 17, 2026, at approximately 21:15 Central time, fourteen animal activists arrived at Ridglan Farms, 33 miles southwest of Madison. They planned to perform a "nonviolent rescue" of beagles in captivity.
Radio transcription follows.
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026
COMMAND 21:12:49 roll call please headcount in BREACH 21:13:02 breach team, all three at fence INTERIOR 21:13:11 forward team alpha, we've got six forward team bravo, five here COMMAND 21:13:28 confirm in place for moat crossing BREACH 21:13:34 confirmed, all teams on standby COMMAND 21:13:51 let's get that bridge over the moat BREACH 21:14:07 [sounds of strain] BREACH 21:14:39 [splashing of water] BREACH 21:15:12 bridge good INTERIOR 21:15:20 (we're) crossing the moat wall INTERIOR 21:15:44 [panting, footfall] INTERIOR 21:16:18 interior team alpha inside facility INTERIOR 21:16:31 interior team beta in position, office is empty INTERIOR 21:16:47 they might have all gone home COMMAND 21:17:02 copy, alpha, sighted beagle count? INTERIOR 21:17:15 [footfall] INTERIOR 21:17:33 stinks in here INTERIOR 21:17:58 outer cage room maybe rows (and rows) of cage, but almost empty COMMAND 21:18:14 ok, grab them for now INTERIOR 21:18:47 copy, rescue count three unbelievable, don't even clean up their shit COMMAND 21:19:03 great, remember we're planning for twenty make sure they're responsive INTERIOR 21:19:51 [door creaks] INTERIOR 21:20:06 beta to command. we see one person at the office now looks like he's sleeping- [background] you sure he's sleeping? INTERIOR 21:20:28 alpha to command. rescue count five, we're heading to the next room COMMAND 21:20:41 copy INTERIOR 21:20:58 why he's wearing a lab coat? INTERIOR 21:21:15 beta to command, he's not sleeping [footfalls] he's out cold COMMAND 21:21:32 say again INTERIOR 21:21:47 name tag says rick v-something, veterinarian INTERIOR 21:22:04 this the anaesthesia guy from the news? COMMAND 21:22:19 beta, is he breathing INTERIOR 21:22:31 no. dead a while. days maybe COMMAND 21:22:52 alpha, status INTERIOR 21:23:08 alpha, another cage room mostly empty rescue count eight COMMAND 21:23:27 we planned twenty INTERIOR 21:23:34 i know INTERIOR 21:24:02 beta to command, we're going to leave rick here probably an OD. INTERIOR 21:24:28 we're going to the other half COMMAND 21:24:45 ok. shit. didn't need a dead guy in the news INTERIOR 21:25:02 we'll call the police when we're out INTERIOR 21:25:17 alpha here. three dogs in this room just watching us they haven't barked once not one of them INTERIOR 21:25:48 they're (moving) aside letting us through INTERIOR 21:26:02 [continuous siren sound for nine seconds] [impacts, repeating] INTERIOR 21:26:19 [breathing, close] oh my god, oh my god, oh my god casey's on the floor casey's on the floor, his leg COMMAND 21:26:28 say again, what's happening INTERIOR 21:26:34 their teeth — they've got [background] don't pull it out, don't — COMMAND 21:26:51 interior, who's hurt INTERIOR 21:26:55 [wet sound] knives, [unintelligible] knives in their mouths COMMAND 21:27:03 don't panic who's hurt? is there (a gas leak). are you dizzy? INTERIOR 21:27:11 *** not moving casey bleeding COMMAND 21:27:16 what? interior team B, check in INTERIOR 21:27:29 only two of us here, can't see (anyone) else my feet are (slipping/slippery) [sustained barking] INTERIOR 21:27:52 we need help come in to help, get us out BREACH 21:28:04 harper's coming, what do you mean knives in their mouths? you- COMMAND 21:28:07 let's get out of there, forget the beagles- BREACH 21:28:10 -harper's coming in to get you, (security) aren't around INTERIOR 21:28:34 [footfalls] INTERIOR 21:28:47 *. [yelled] INTERIOR 21:28:51 ***. [yelled] INTERIOR 21:28:55 *. [yelled] INTERIOR 21:28:57 *- [yelling cut off by the termination of the recording] ALL CHANNELS 21:28:57 END OF RECORDING