Protestors try to stop squirrel contest

HOLLEY, N.Y. (WIVB) - For seven years, the volunteer fire department in the small Orleans County Village of Holley has sponsored the "Hazard County Squirrel Slam," a squirrel-hunting contest to raise money for the department.

Hunters who weigh in with the heaviest squirrels can win cash prizes, and there's a gun raffle at the fire hall.

Forr the first time, this year, the event has caught the attention of animal rights activists, who say it's inappropriate for a fire department to sponsor an event in which people kill for sport.

RELATED | A woman activist from Austin, Texas launched an online petition to stop the "Squirrel Slam." It gathered more than 15,000 signatures in a short amount of time. Word spread quickly and soon enough protestors from all over gathered in Holley expressing their concern.

That petition didn't stop the sporting competition from happening Saturday, but protesters from all different parts of New York State lined the street, outside the fire hall.

"Cash and guns for dead squirrels! Shame on Holley, NY!" they chanted.   

"Shame on you!" one resident chanted back.

Police blocked off some streets, and kept close watch, as protesters and hunters had a few tense exchanges.

Residents argued, squirrel hunting is perfectly legal for anyone with a small game hunting license. The State DEC allows licensed hunters to take up to six squirrels a day, during the regular season.

The protesters said, they don't object to hunting -- they just don't the idea of the fire department running this kind of an event.

"I think it's a little ridiculous," remarked Holley resident, Dan MacDonald. "I mean, you can hunt squirrels from September 1st to February 28th, and there's no protesters then. We're not teaching violence at all."

"We think there's probably a better way to raise money that puts a better message out than, 'Let's go kill something and have it sponsored by a fire department.' That's not what fire department people do. They're looked up to," one protester was overheard, explaining to a fire department supporter.

"[The fundraiser] is for a good cause," resident John Moon said, in defense of the fire department.

The Holley Village Board of Trustees previously released a statement saying it "supports its volunteer fire department's fundraising efforts."

"This just seems like a really strange policy to raise money; to do something that's so violent," opined protester, Bonda Reid. "It's really a message of violence that I think that they're perpetuating. And they [the fire department] are a public service."

"We're not promoting violence," MacDonald reiterated. "Nobody's shooting a squirrel to waste it. They're all going to be consumed."

One person was arrested after Saturday's demonstrations. Protesters say they pressed charges against a man who, repeatedly harassed them.