The Humane Society of the United States said this morning that its state director, Inga Gibson, filed a complaint with the state Department of Corrections and Department of Fish and Wildlife over reported mistreatment of pheasants being raised at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla.

An inmate's relative contacted the group to report that approximately a thousand birds had died "of overcrowding, heat exposure and improper care," according to HSUS.

The pheasants are reportedly used by Fish and Wildlife to stock wildland for hunting, or as HSUS termed it, "released into the landscape solely as living targets for shooters."

The relative also reported that the birds are fed garbage and have their beaks "mutilated", according to the group, which says that such inhumane conditions will "horribly undermine" efforts to reform prisoners and instill empathy.

I found a couple of references to a pheasant-raising prison program in old legislation, but couldn't find anything regarding the status of the program recently. Am awaiting a response from the Department of Corrections; will post it here when it arrives.

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