On July 1, Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and biomedical research facility in the town of Blue Mounds, will give up its state breeding license in exchange for avoiding prosecution on felony animal mistreatment charges.
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Animal rights activists are repelled by tear gas as they attempt to storm the grounds of Ridglan Farms on April 18, 2026, in the town of Blue Mounds. The attempted raid came a month after a smaller break-in at the facility, in which dozens of activists successfully removed 23 dogs.
Law enforcement in riot gear walk across a field after stopping animal rights activists from storming the grounds of Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility, on April 18, 2026. The activists attempted to breach the fence of the facility, but were repelled by a manure-lined moat, a wall of hay bales and tear gas and rubber bullets fired by police.
Activists help a demonstrator suffering from exposure to tear gas after she joined others in attempting to break into Ridglan Farms on April 18, 2026.
Jessica Moses, right, of California, shares a long embrace with Irina Vogler of North Carolina during a gathering outside Ridglan Farms on April 19, 2026, a day after activists were repelled while trying to break into the facility. The pair, both originally from Germany, had met only minutes earlier and had participated in the attempted raid the previous day.
Animal rights activists hold a press conference inside the state Capitol on April 20, 2026, demanding local lawmakers take steps to close Ridglan Farms.
Animal rights activists protest outside Gov. Tony Evers’ office on April 20, 2026.
Volunteer Rebecca Ryals counts beagles in cages taken out of Ridglan Farms to be driven to Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida on May 1, 2026, in Marshall. The day before, Big Dog and the nonprofit animal welfare organization Center for a Humane Economy announced a deal to buy 1,500 of the farm’s more than 2,000 beagles for an undisclosed amount of money.
Volunteers carry beagles released from Ridglan Farms to a staging facility in Marshall, where the dogs ran in a yard and played with other beagles before being transporting to Big Dog Ranch Rescue in Florida on May 1, 2026.
Volunteer pilot Stephen Nur steps out of his plane after loading beagles to be flown to the East Coast on May 2, 2026, at Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport in Janesville. The day before, the first 300 dogs were taken from Ridglan Farms and allowed to run free in the sun before being shipped off in vans and a plane to various organizations on the East Coast and in the South to be rehabilitated and find homes.
Certified Veterinarian Technician Rachel White pets a beagle before an evaluation and treatment in a bathroom-turned exam room on May 11, 2026, at the Dane County Humane Society in Madison. The humane society served as a transfer point for some 500 of the beagles being released.
Certified veterinary technician Roxanne Sanchez comforts a beagle as it is given a vaccine at the Dane County Humane Society in Madison on May 11, 2026. Beagles were given vaccines, a microchip and an evaluation during their visit with the vet.
Volunteer Nick Strzelecki comforts a beagle as it waits to be loaded onto a transport van to the Animal Rescue League of Iowa at the Dane County Humane Society in Madison on May 11, 2026. Organizations from around the Midwest drove to the humane society to pick up beagles to be fostered and adopted.
A beagle from Ridglan Farms sniffs the grass before stepping out of its crate after being treated by a veterinarian at the Dane County Humane Society on May 11, 2026.
Members of the media document the first beagle let into a play area at the Dane County Humane Society in Madison on yard on May 11, 2026. The raids on Ridglan Farms and the subsequent release of beagles made national headlines.
Clara Stark, 9, hugs Finn, a 2-year-old beagle rescued from Ridglan Farms, while playing with him in her backyard in Verona on June 4, 2026. Finn was adopted by the Stark family from the Dane County Humane Society on May 16.
