PETA Calls On Texas Officials to Investigate ‘Call of the Wildman’

After Bats Cruelly Released and Chased in Houston Salon, Group Asks City of Houston, State Agency to Take Action

For Immediate Release:
February 12, 2014

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

In response to the recent Mother Jones exposé that revealed that bats were apparently released into a Houston hair salon so that they could be chased and captured on camera for the Animal Planet series Call of the Wildman, PETA has sent letters to Houston’s Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department urging the agencies to investigate the individuals involved for potential violations of the Houston City Code and Texas wildlife law, respectively, and to hold series star Ernie Brown Jr. and all other responsible parties accountable for any violations.

As PETA points out in its complaints, Brown reportedly chased numerous Mexican free-tailed bats around the Jazzy Girls Beauty Boutique, which has since closed, for a Call of the Wildman episode that aired in August 2013. A pest-control service was reportedly called to remove dead bats from the salon post-filming. The city of Houston prohibits “any harboring or keeping of a wild animal,” and Texas law prohibits the hunting, sale, and “possession after sale” of bats.

“Wild animals shouldn’t be harassed and potentially injured or killed for any reason, let alone for the sake of a TV show,” says PETA Foundation Deputy General Counsel Delcianna Winders. “PETA is calling on the authorities to demonstrate that abusers can’t mess with Texas laws designed to protect animals.”

PETA has also called on Animal Planet to cancel the show and mobilized nearly 55,000 people—so far—to contact the network through an action alert posted on PETA’s popular website.

PETA’s complaints to Houston and Texas authorities are available upon request. For more information, please visit PETA.org.