Squirrel shoot fund-raiser in New York town goes on despite protests
The LA Times
By Tamara Jones
Friends of Animals state director Edita Birnkrant said she was unable to get through to the mayor or fire chief to make her matching-funds offer.
“The town clerk told me, ‘You don’t understand, every official in this village is 100% behind this event. Our values, our way of life, our culture, is about hunting.’
“I’m pretty sure if we had offered $100,000, they wouldn’t have canceled it.”
For the last six years, the volunteer fire department of rural Holley, N.Y., has raised money for new equipment by sponsoring a hunting contest to see who could shoot the fattest squirrel. Other than some concerns that cheaters might pack squirrels with rocks before weigh-in, the event has always gone off without a hitch.
Until now.
This year, the squirrels have gone viral, and the social media campaign to stop Holley’s seventh annual “Squirrel Slam” on Saturday has turned into full-fledged cultural warfare between Americans who feed squirrels and Americans who serve them in pot pies with sherried mushrooms.
Passions are running so high that the FBI had to be called in to investigate death threats against “the whole village board, the police, the firefighters” and virtually every official in the one-square-mile village, according to Police Chief William Murphy, who noted that he neither hunts nor eats squirrels himself.
In the pro-squirrel camp are animal activists, wildlife rehabilitators, a state senator, gun opponents, a New Age minister in Texas who heals wounded squirrels through Reiki massage, and a small subculture of pet lovers eager to spread the word about the unique joys of “homesquirreling.”
Through Facebook postings, online petitions and up to 3,000 emails a day to Holley officials, the squirrel advocates have tried to persuade the fire department to cancel the slam, which offers cash prizes of up to $200 to two-person teams whose five-squirrel limit weighs the most. (“No internal packing or soaking of squirrels for added weight!!!” the rules state.)
Of particular ire to hunt opponents is a new category this year offering a special prize to participants under the age of 14.
In addition to cash awards for dead squirrels, the slam will raffle off rifles, including a semiautomatic .22-caliber assault-style gun similar to one Connecticut police found in the arsenal of the Sandy Hook school shooter — a fact that has further incensed the squirrel advocates.
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8 Comments
On February 15, 2013, Sandra Blank wrote:
I had the opportunity to feel out some of the residents this morning while buying paint at the local lumber yard. Most of the comments were about getting out of town for the day. I did not find one person who was actually supporting this event wholeheartedly. I casually enlightened one woman about the squirrel breeding season with mommies due to deliver in both March and June typically. I suggested that the “largest” targets could very well be swollen in maternity. She said she had never thought about that. Did it create an ally? I’ll have to wait and see which side of the barricade she stands on if she comes to the fire hall.
On February 15, 2013, Julie wrote:
Oh Sandra … I hope you are right. I pray you are right about most people leaving town that day. I pray you are right that you made an ally. I’ve prayed for weeks for the safety of the wildlife.
On February 17, 2013, Dawn Spencer wrote:
Shame shame shame.
On February 17, 2013, Jeffrey Jump wrote:
And we wonder why certain children grow up to be callous indifferent and uncaring adults, with little regard for others and for things that matter in life. This idiotic “hunt” only further desensitizes us, and children, to death and minimizes the sanctity and value of all life. Shame on all those involved!
On February 17, 2013, Diane wrote:
Friends of Animals, you are amazing for what you did to try to get this contest killing stopped. I’m just sick about what happened to all those poor animals and what the protesters had to endure at the hands of the “hunters”.
On February 17, 2013, Donna wrote:
Hunting for food is different than hunting for a contest or sport! This whole thing is ridiculous! In todays day and age something like this should not be allowed! I am sure no one ate the squirrels, senseless killing….terrible! I know for one I will NEVER visit Holley NY! What is to stop these children from shooting a cat, or a dog, or any other animal!?
On February 18, 2013, Alison wrote:
Thank you Friends of Animals and all who worked so hard to stop this event. I was and continued be stunned by the lack of compassion, indifference and unwillingness to listen to those who really do know what they are talking about and tried to offer their opinions respectfully. I have been doing a lot of research into this event and on hunting, I have done a lot of listening to all and I intend to stay involved. Let’s not forget this and let’s do something to change not only laws and regulations, but hearts as well.
One point: why is hunting season for squirrels during the time they are pregnant or nursing? That’s one regulation that should be changed. I do believe there should be a ban on all hunting contests and definitely on canned hunting and all sport hunting. In essence, a ban on all forms of non-sustenance hunting. Why on earth should a bobcat be a hunting target - do people eat them? If you do an internet search, you will see there are even entities dedicated to sport hunting trips and “canned hunts.” Why on earth do some not see how terrible, how evil, this is? How can they look at a beautiful animal, observe his/her wonderful form, look into his/her eyes and soul, and take that life? How can that be? I feel blessed by God when I can view a wild creature and cannot understand why some don’t.
On February 18, 2013, Irene wrote:
Boy for days I was on this Slam. With calls, prayers, Reiki, e-mails, CNN,I will not stop until these contest are stopped. I sign petitions every day. Wolves are my biggest concern at the moment.