Animal Welfare Institute Condemns Cruelty of First Yellowstone Bison Kill

 

To: National Desk

Contact: D.J. Schubert of the Animal Welfare Institute, 609-334-1378

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The first victim of Montana's unjustified bison hunt was reportedly shot at a distance of 20 yards and required at least four bullets and 45 minutes to die.

As the animal was dying, the remaining members of the herd surrounded him, and hunters threw rocks at the herd for half an hour before they moved away so the hunters could gut the dead bison. In the midst of cutting up the animal's carcass, the herd returned and the hunters began pelting the animals with rocks again.

"The hunting of these bison is blatant animal cruelty that must not be countenanced by the State of Montana," said D.J. Schubert, wildlife biologist at the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI). "We strongly renew our request that Governor Schweitzer immediately terminate the hunt to protect other bison from suffering a similar fate."

Montana claims its first bison hunt in nearly 15 years would meet the legal requirement of a "fair chase" hunt and has required the selected hunters to attend an orientation session to learn, among other things, how to ensure a quick kill of a bison. As evidenced by the very first victim of the hunt, bison hunting is neither sporting nor humane.

"Compassionate people throughout the United States and the world should be outraged by this state-sanctioned cruelty against one of America's most iconic species and demand that Montana halt the hunt."