Every once in awhile, the Washington Department of Corrections posts on its Web site a news release that's kinda interesting.

I just find it ironic that the claim of overcrowding was about birds and not inmates -- especially given the fact that Washington has 1,000 inmates in out-of-state prisons because its own prisons are so overcrowded.

From the news release:

"DOC does not tolerate cruelty to animals and the department took swift action to investigate the HSUS allegations to ensure the pheasants are treated humanely."

Of course, our inmates are raising these pheasants at Walla Walla and Coyote Ridge prisons so hunters can blow them to smithereens during hunting season, which is just around the corner.

Good thing the Humane Society is looking out for those pheasants.

DOC Releases Statement on Pheasant Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2008

The Department of Corrections Monday assured the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) that a pheasant farm it operates at Washington State Penitentiary meets or exceeds all industry standards for game birds.

[More:]

The assurance was contained in a letter sent to HSUS Monday in response to an Aug. 25 letter from the animal support organization that alleged overcrowding, heat exposure and improper care at the facility. The pheasants are raised by inmates at the Washington State Penitentiary. The pheasant operations teach offenders marketable job skills and provide hunting opportunities under the auspices of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

DOC does not tolerate cruelty to animals and the department took swift action to investigate the HSUS allegations to ensure the pheasants are treated humanely.

On Aug. 28, DOC Correctional Industries Director Lyle Morse visited the Penitentiary to investigate the reports from HSUS. Morse found the program is committed to using the best known methods and follows industry standards based on a book, Game Bird Propagation, endorsed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The facility’s flight pen provides the pheasants with nearly three times the space per bird recommended by industry standards. According to standards, the Penitentiary’s 60,000 square foot pen could hold 15,000 pheasants. The Penitentiary’s flight pen houses only 2,700 pheasants.

For the safety of the pheasants, their beaks are clipped and blinders are attached during processing. The beaks grow back and the blinders are removed prior to their release. The processes for de-beaking and blinder attachment strictly follow industry standards, Morse found.

The warm temperatures in Walla Walla require that the birds being processed are misted with water from a regular garden hose to minimize the stress from heat.

The birds are provided natural forage and food that is portioned based on the bird’s age.

DOC also operates a pheasant-rearing program at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center in Connell.

DOC has invited HSUS state Director Inga Gibson to inspect its pheasant facilities at any time.