Dear HCN,
After reading Tom Reed’s
article on purposeful wildlife trapping and accidental pet dog
trapping, all I can say to your headline, “Is trapping doomed?” is
– not soon enough (HCN, 4/12/99).
It is directly
due to the activities of trappers that we now have species in
trouble, like the wolf, bear, cougar, lynx, ferret, fisher,
wolverine and swift fox. Species have been extirpated from some
states, or are now federally listed as endangered or threatened, or
should be, not that listing seems to do them much good in many
cases.
Government trappers report killing 1 to 2
million animals yearly, with thousands accidentally killed. For
every “accident” like that which killed the dog, Buddy, there are
probably a hundred more that we don’t hear of, as pet owners are
routinely intimidated and harassed when trying to report the
incident.
Wildlife Damage Review has examples of
this, and we are looking for more. If readers have had a pet or
hunting dog killed by poison devices or baits (poisoned carcasses,
poison grain or M-44s – sodium cyanide ejectors), or injured by
traps or snares, please send us your story. If you have seen
articles in the newspaper or magazines, send copies of those, too.
Send us pictures. These carcass piles are everywhere in the West
and it’s time to put a stop to these illegal and dangerous
practices perpetuated by Animal Damage Control and trappers who
don’t follow the law.
Nancy
Zierenberg
Tucson,
Arizona
Wildlife Damage Review
can be reached at Box 85218, Tucson, AZ 85754 (520/884-0883) or
e-mail wdr@azstarnet.com.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Let’s stop trapping.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
