Mass-kill events exploiting squirrels into extinction (Photos)

SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA- The East Coast is setting a new trend with deadly results. Organizations that need to raise money fast are gathering a large number of registered hunters to kill squirrels and charging the hunters a $10-$20 fee to join in the carnage. This trend could wipeout the squirrel population on the East Coast if the authorities continue to ignore this bloody mass-killing sport.

View slideshow: America have 200 species of squirrels 100 of those are tree squirrels

Squirrel season opens on the East Coast in mid-October and runs through the end of February. Each State and/or County may have different bag (kill) limits, but typically the daily kill limit is anywhere from 5-8 grey and/or red squirrels, and 1-2 on fox squirrels.

The typical hunting season helps to regulate the squirrel population and is said to help keep the remaining squirrel population healthy because it eliminates the need for the squirrels to compete for food and shelter.

This has been a normal part of the conservation of the species and authorities haven’t had to regulate it because the hunting of the squirrels has been evenly dispersed throughout any one area.

That all changed this year when the Holley Firefighters 7th annual squirrel slam was a success according to Tina Reed, 42, a volunteer firefighter who helped organize the event that sold over 1000 tickets to hunters and their children.

This year’s squirrel slam killed thousands of squirrels in a concentrated area, and taught children that a mob mentality to destroy an entire population of species is not only fun, but they could win money and guns. This event also exposed the children to hunters that were drinking and hunting.

After seeing the squirrel slams success, the Beckville Gun Club is hosting their 1st annual squirrel hunt on the 23rd of this month. The gun club is charging hunters $20.00 for a two men or single person team to join the mass slaughter.

The top prize in this event will be the heaviest squirrel killed which means the winner will have killed a pregnant female, unless they kill a fox squirrel (the biggest and heaviest American squirrel).

The squirrel kill events are not about the conservation of a species, or to teach children how to properly maintain and control a species for their future. These events are being hosted as a way to raise fast money, and reputable hunters all over America agree these mass-killing events are giving all hunters a bad name.

According to Alamogordo Daily News wrote a legislator from southern New Mexico hopes to outlaw animal-killing contests, saying they are senseless and glorify violence.

Rep. Nate Cote, D-Organ, said events such as one last fall in which team of hunters competed to kill the most coyotes caused a justifiable public outcry.

"I'm a hunter and a fisherman, but I'd never seen anything like that. We've got to be better than that," Cote stated in an interview.

A hunter by the name of DP stated, “As a resident of Montana, I've had the opportunity to speak with several hunters in the area, many of whom felt the squirrel slam was "embarrassing.” “This gives all hunters a bad name.”

The mass-killing events are becoming a hazard to America’s wildlife, and are not teaching children the morals and ethics our society has relied on to ensure America has remaining wildlife for future generations.

A concerned citizen has started a “Halt the Beckville Gun Club squirrel hunt,” and “Legislative Campaign to ban animal-killing contest,” to bring awareness to the public.

A petition has been started to bring these mass-killing events to attention of President Obama entitled, “Ban animal contest kills and prosecute those who conduct them,” at the White house petition site.

The supporters of these mass-kill events do not care about conservation, and do not care if they wipe out America’s wildlife, so why should America care if they have a right to carry a gun?