Joe Tarr
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stopped in Madison Wednesday as it tours the state promoting a boycott of Canadian maple syrup over the country's annual seal slaughter.
The boycott tour started in Vermont -- the largest maple syrup producing state -- and has continued through Maine, New York and Pennsylvania, says Jena Hunt, campaign coordinator for PETA, who was handing out fliers on Capitol Square.
The controversial baby seal slaughter takes place every year, with as many as 300,000 baby seals, just weeks old, permitted to be killed.
Hunt says the pressure is having some effect. Europe recently banned seal products and Russia ended its seal hunt earlier this year.
PETA's main objection to the slaughter is its cruelty, Hunt says: "They invade the ice floes... and beat them to death in front of their mothers."