Woke animal rights group issues bizarre response after Kraken team mascot was chased by bear

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

An animal rights group issued a puzzling call to action after the Seattle Kraken's team mascot went viral for encountering a real grizzly bear while filming a promotional video.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) sent a letter to Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke that urged the team to stop promoting fishing after the incident went viral.
'In light of your mascot's recent experience of being "hunted" by a grizzly bear in Alaska, this would be the perfect time for your team to bench their fishing rods for good,' PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk wrote.
Last week, the mascot, Buoy, shared a shocking behind-the-scenes look at the team's marketing campaign with star player John Hayden in the Alaskan wilderness.
Their fly-fishing video was interrupted when a grizzly bear started charging at Buoy. Luckily, the team had a guide on board who alerted them to the bear.
The videographers captured the close call on camera, and the video went viral on social media, alerting the attention of animal rights groups who warned against fishing.
The PETA founder went on to say that fish don't want to end up as someone's food and suggested the team participate in 'animal-friendly activities like "trash fishing."'
Newkirk argued that picking up trash is 'a great way to clean up waterways and reel in some good karma'.
She referred to a post on X from Buoy about the bear encounter that read: 'no trolls or bears were hurt in the making, always respect wildlife in their natural habitat [heart emoji]'.
Newkirk said that fishing sends the opposite message and condones injuring or killing animals.
She referenced a study published in June in Scientific Reports that found that fish likely feel moderate to intense pain caused by asphyxia for at least 20 minutes after they're caught.
'In fact, fish who are released after they're hooked often die slowly from their injuries and the trauma of being handled,' Newkirk continued.
'Imagine having a hook through your mouth, then having it yanked out, and being released. Hardly harmless.'
Newkirk argued that fish can feel pain, fear, and affection like humans and asked the team to send a 'kind message' about how fish deserve to be treated.
'Just as a grizzly bear decided to Buoy off his plate that day in Alaska, we hope your team will keep fish and other animals off theirs,' Newkirk concluded.
The NHL team was collaborating with the Bristol Bay Native Corporation, a for-profit entity of around 10,000 indigenous shareholders with a mission of protecting the land for the promotional video-gone-viral.
The trip is an annual ritual for the team's troll mascot, and the viral video was branded as 'experiential content' by marketing director Melissa O'Brochta.
Hayden and Buoy made light of the terrifying incident after the fact in a video posted to X.
'I want to blame it on Buoy, they were pretty interested in his... his whole look. So, we got out of it okay, but it was a close call,' Hayden confessed.
The team also shared photos of Buoy and Hayden fishing at Brook Falls near the Katmai National Park and Preserve for the marketing campaign.