Squirrel Slam fundraiser called off the mark
By Casey Seiler
ALBANY — The squirrels of Western New York have a friend in the state Legislature, but he comes from Queens. State Sen. Tony Avella, a Democrat, was joined by animal advocates at the Capitol on Monday to denounce the Hazzard County Squirrel Slam, a hunting event set to be held Saturday in the town of Holley, located on the eastern side of Orleans County north of Rochester.
“It’s bad on so many levels,” said Avella, who criticized the decision to include preteen hunters in the event. ” … A poor little squirrel getting a nut and probably coming up to the individual to try and be friendly — and then the kid pulls out a gun and shoots it.”
A benefit for the local fire department, this is the seventh annual Slam — named in honor of the TV classic “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
According to the department’s website, the goal is for two-person teams to bag the five heaviest squirrels — “reds and grays only” — for cash awards ranging from $50 to $200. (The rules prohibit “internal packing or soaking of squirrels for added weight.”)
Guns are also among the day’s prizes, including an AR-22 semiautomatic rifle — although “substitutions on guns may be necessary due to federal/state gun law changes,” the website notes.
Opponents of the hunt have been collecting tens of thousands of signatures on petitions, and have already raised several thousand dollars to donate to the fire department if it cancels the event. So far, it has refused to do so.
Avella, D-Queens, said that while he has been supportive of the sport of hunting in many cases, the squirrel shoot goes “too far” — especially the involvement of children in a new 14-and-younger category. He was backed up by Peter Muller of the League of Humane Voters of New York and Edita Birnkrant, the state director of Friends of Animals.
“I understand that hunting is an important thing for upstate New York and is part of the culture,” Avella said, “but this goes way beyond that — it’s just insane.”
Organizers of the event could not be reached for comment.
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2 Comments
On February 12, 2013, Alison wrote:
An email which I just sent to the Holley Fire Department:
I write to make my final plea to you to cancel the squirrel hunt contest.
My reasons in opposition (very briefly - I could provide more detail if desired) are:
The cartoon animal on the poster advertising the event is a frightened squirrel. This to me this does relate a great insensitivity to the fear and pain the animals will definitely feel during this event. The title of the event “squirrel slam” also conveys disrespect and a willingness to inflict pain.
This is NOT a normal hunting event: it is advertised as a “fun” CONTEST where killing animals is rewarded with cash and guns. The taking of a life — any life — should NEVER be seen as “fun.” I have found out that there are a number of hunters who in fact agree with me 100% on this and they are opposed to this contest.
The image of the fireman, a life saver who is pictured not infrequently administering oxygen to rescued animals, is not compatible with what will occur late Saturday afternoon as hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of lifeless and maimed bodies are presented to the Fire House.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands of animals will be removed on Saturday February 16 and their removal has a ripple effect throughout the ecosystem. You have removed a prime food source for the large non-human predators (hawks, large mammals) for instance.
A number of animals are nursing and pregnant females and you will not only remove them but you will leave their orphans to die by starvation.
I can honestly say that I HAVE listened so, so carefully to ALL viewpoints and ALL arguments, but I still come down on the side of cancelling the event.
There are so, so many ways to raise funds for your fire department. If you cannot think of any there are many, many people and resources who will help you do so. Your local business leaders, concerned citizens, town officials and educators should be able to come up with solid support and great ideas.
Let’s all try to do what we can to make a positive change in the world and consider the real impact our actions have on wildlife, the environment, and ALL living creatures, including our brothers and sisters.
On February 15, 2013, tricia w. wrote:
Bullies Kill Squirrels
I will write this on a sign and carry it in protest Saturday, February 16th.
Humans are waging war against the natural world and
its creatures…