Alaska Bans Tasering Wildlife

It's not clear whether Alaskan hunters have actually been using Tasers on grizzly bears or bull moose, but the state's Board of Game has outlawed the practice anyway. Officials describe the ban on hunters using stun guns on wildlife as a "proactive measure" intended to prevent "catch and release'" hunting, reports Reuters.

"Conceivably someone could Tase a moose or bear, go up and get a picture taken with it, shut the (Taser) off and then release the animal,” a Board of Game expert tells the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. "What we wanted to do was head off at the pass any non-trained use of this equipment." Properly trained state biologists will still be allowed to use stun guns on wildlife—as will people trying to defend themselves from wildlife attacks. (More hunting stories.)