Squirrel hunting event angers activists

HOLLEY, N.Y. (WIVB) - A sporting event that features shooting live squirrels will raise money for a fire department in Orleans County, but some say it's barbaric and the event has raised the ire of animal lovers around the world.

A person in Texas has started a petition to stop the tradition in the Village of Holley after word about the event spread online. News 4 went to Orleans County and found most residents defend the annual "Hazard County Squirrel Slam." The sporting event raises money for the volunteer fire department. It costs $10 to enter and whichever hunter brings in the heaviest squirrel wins $200.

Dylan Love commented, "We're just trying to raise money for the fire department. It's happened six years before and people are just starting an uproar now?"

An animal rights activist named Julie Gallagher from Austin, Texas has launched online petition trying to stop the February 16th event. She's already gathered 6,000 signatures and calls it a mass slaughter of squirrels. She's especially critical of the fact that kids as young as 12 are allowed to participate.

"I learned at 11. My dad bought me the first .22 when I was 11-years-old and I hunted woodchucks and squirrels and everything else when I was a kid. I don't see anything wrong with it," said Gordon Tooley.

The Holley Fire Department put out a written statement saying, "While we respect the opinions of the public, there are multiple opinions to every situation. As representatives of government, we have taken the opportunity to listen to all sides of this event and will continue to do so."

Cody Passarell added, "It's just a fundraising event; the squirrels go to good use. I've heard stories that people take them."

"A lot of my buddies all eat squirrels," noted Love. "We don't go out there to kill them. It's a sport just like skiing or snowboarding; it's a sport."

The fire department insists it follows all the state laws related to hunting squirrels. Squirrel season lasts six months of the year with the DEC issued guideline that a hunter can shoot no more than six per day.

The Village Board supports the event and most of the 700 tickets available to sign up have already been sold.