Dear HCN,
Is trapping doomed? (HCN,
4/12/99). Of course it is. When decent people like Liz Kehr and
Kevin Feist are forced to haggle over how many days animals should
remain in traps before they are bludgeoned to death or whether
trappers should post signs to warn the public of their dangerous
and cowardly practices, be assured that the end is
near.
People who care about wildlife are fed up
to here with the delays and distractions of “advisory committees’
and “stakeholder processes.” When Colorado’s anti-trapping
activists grew weary of endless oxymoronic discussions about
“humane trapping,” and when their offer to compromise with trappers
was met with derisive laughter, they asked for and received the
help of a sympathetic electorate in banning
trapping.
Recent revolutions have rendered
unacceptable the acts of purposely sucking pollutants into your
lungs through a paper tube, tying one on and grabbing the car keys,
and irresponsible sex. In a not-too-distant but more enlightened
future, the idea of trapping wild animals in steel-jaw leghold
traps for fun, profit or any other reason will be viewed with the
same disgust.
Susan
Cockrell
Holden,
Maine
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Doom can’t be soon enough.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
