The terrorism that is happening is against the natural world and the habitat and the animals. In January 2000, ELF set fire to a home in Bloomington, Ind., because of its location on a watershed that provided the town's drinking water. And in November, the group claimed responsibility for torching a mansion under construction in Boulder County, Colo., because voters defeated a growth-control measure. Sometimes it's not as rational as we think it should be, but somehow they made a decision that violence is going to serve their purpose. And when they do that, they become very dangerous.
Experts caution that there is no standard modus operandi for an eco-terrorist.
Months may pass between strikes or not. They may move on to another cause or not. Notes may be left or not. Although aboveground organizations focus on raising awareness, radicals want to inflict enough economic damage so an organization can't stay in business, he said. But although the groups may cite changes in animal testing, herbicide use on public lands and the way Hollywood treats animals, they have not eliminated the problems that triggered their extremist actions.