Wisconsin hockey players dispatch stray bat, drawing jeers from PETA

Wisconsin hockey players dispatch stray bat

ASHWAUBENON, Wis. — A junior hockey team in Wisconsin is under fire for killing a bat that flew into its arena during a game.

Green Bay Gamblers coach Jon Cooper on Wednesday defended his decision to send three of his players to go after the bat with sticks in hand. The Gamblers were playing the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders on Tuesday night when the bat showed up.

Tori Perry of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says the team should have tried to net the animal and release it.

But Cooper says the incident has turned into “Batgate,” and says his concern was protecting the players and the hundreds of fans in the arena from any threat of rabies.

Information from: WLUK-TV, www.fox11online.com