Feds Revoke Thomas Edmonds’ License, Fine Him $25,100 After Slew of Violations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revoked the license of Thomas Edmonds, operator of the notorious roadside zoo Walnut Prairie Wildside in Illinois, permanently banning him from exhibiting animals regulated by the federal Animal Welfare Act (AWA)—and levied a fine of $25,100 against him. Edmonds had racked up more than 65 alleged violations of the AWA over four years, and many of the citations were issued after PETA repeatedly alerted the USDA to ongoing and serious concerns at his facility.