Teen Arrested for Shooting, Killing Squirrels with Blow Darts Brings PETA School Empathy Program to Battle Ground

For Immediate Release:
January 12, 2026

Contact:
Sara Groves 202-483-7382

Following the arrest of a Battle Ground High School student, Trevor Ek, who is charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals for allegedly shooting squirrels with a blow dart gun in Lewisville Regional Park, TeachKind—PETA’s humane education division—is rushing humane education resources to Battle Ground Public Schools Superintendent Shelly Whitten, along with an urgent letter stressing the need for classroom lessons condemning bullying and harming others and fostering empathy for all. PETA is also erecting a sky-high community message asking anyone who suspects any youngster of abusing animals—or who hopes to stop the problem before it starts—to contact TeachKind for free classroom presentations, lessons, and other resources that help parents and educators cultivate compassion.

According to police, the young adult admitted to shooting the squirrels with blow darts as well as darting animals at other locations—which he has allegedly been doing for over a year—and reportedly told investigators he “enjoys killing small animals,” behavior considered a red flag by sociologists and criminologists, and indicating the possibility of future escalated violence.

“Terrorizing and killing animals is a shocking and horrific act, no matter the age of the perpetrator, but cruelty like this is preventable,” says TeachKind Senior Manager Faith Rutherford. “Compassion can usually be cultivated, and TeachKind urges educators to use our resources to help kids process this cruel behavior and teach them that violence is never okay, whether the victim is a squirrel or a student.”

TeachKind’s materials include “Empathy Now,” a guide to preventing violence by young people; “Challenging Assumptions” curriculum, which helps secondary school students examine discrimination and other social justice issues; its “Share the World” program kit, which includes lessons that aim to foster empathy for animals and are appropriate for even the youngest learners; and anti-bullying posters.

TeachKind points out that cruelty to animals and violence against humans are inextricably linked. Sandy Hook Promise includes cruelty to animals in its list of “10 Critical Warning Signs of Violence.” TeachKind resources are easy to integrate into schools’ existing curricula to help prevent future violence.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to abuse in any way”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information about TeachKind, please visit TeachKind.org or follow TeachKind on Facebook or Instagram.