NY fire dept.'s squirrel kill contest draws complaints

Enlarge image

Credit "The Little Squirrel" by Dave Lucas

HOLLEY, N.Y. (AP) — A weekend squirrel-shooting contest pits Upstate against Downstate.

State Sen. Tony Avella of Queens and animal-rights activists are among those urging the Holley Fire Department to call off its annual "squirrel slam" fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday.

The Humane Society's New York director, Brian Shapiro, has written a letter suggesting the western New York fire department find an alternative way to raise money.

Neither the fire department nor members of its board of directors have returned telephone and email messages from The Associated Press.

A flier on the department's website promoting the contest lists a youth category for those 14 years old or younger. It also promotes a gun drawing raffle and cash prizes for the largest squirrel and for the heaviest group of five squirrels.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press