An animal rights organization made a curious appeal following the Seattle Kraken’s team mascot going viral after an encounter with a grizzly bear during a promo video shoot.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) reached out to Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke, urging the team to reconsider their stance on promoting fishing, prompted by the incident’s viral reach.
‘Considering your mascot’s recent “hunt” experience with a grizzly bear in Alaska, it’s an ideal moment for your team to bench their fishing rods permanently,’ wrote PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk.
Recently, the team’s mascot, Buoy, posted an astonishing behind-the-scenes reveal of a marketing endeavor with star player John Hayden in the Alaska wilderness.
Their fly-fishing shoot was disrupted as a charging grizzly bear approached Buoy. Fortunately, a guide alerted them to the bear’s presence.
Cameras captured the intense moment, and the footage quickly gained traction on social media, drawing the attention of animal rights advocates concerned about 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’.
PETA asked the Seattle Kraken to stop promoting fishing as recent studies show fish feel intense pain when pulled from the water
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk (pictured) wrote an open letter to the Seattle Kraken’s CEO asking the team to stop fishing
The call to action comes after the NHL team went viral for a promotional video that turned terrifying when a bear interrupted filming (Pictured: CEO Tod Leiweke)
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 random letter comes as the team went viral for a promotional ad where their mascot, Buoy, went fishing with right wing John Hayden
Buoy and Hayden shared images and videos fishing and avoiding bears in the Alaskan wilderness for a promotional campaign
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.
Daily Mail reached out to the Seattle Kraken for comment on PETA’s letter.
