A fire dept. has a squirrel killing contest each year in an effort to raise money for new equipment (this is the area's "volunteer" fire departments). On Feb. 15, the LA Times reported that the volunteer fire department of rural Holley, N.Y. has been doing this "Squirrel Slam" for the past 6 years. For some reason, this year the event has gone viral and people have been voicing their opinions on the "competition."
Basically, the "Squirrel Slam" is a hunting contest to see who can bring in the fattest squirrel. Sure, people have cheated by stuffing their squirrels with rocks, but this year that's not the biggest issue that those involved will have to deal with.
The fire dept. squirrel kill competition is getting national attention. Even though the event is scheduled for today, many animal rights activists have been going nuts (pun intended) over the idea that these people are killing squirrels for fun (well, really for money). Aside from winning cash for the top dog, er, squirrel, there will be some raffle prizes given away. One "win"? A semiautomatic .22-caliber assault-style gun.
"The '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," reports the LA Times. One of the biggest problems? The contest has a bracket for participants 14 and under.
Do you think the fire dept. squirrel kill -- the "Squirrel Slam" -- should be prohibited?
© Effie Orfanides 2013
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