Trapping Near Trails: Avoid the Controversy

The issue of trapping on public trails has been a hot topic in the news lately.  It seems like every few weeks a story comes out about a hiker’s dog being killed in a trap, refuelling debate about how trappers should operate.

New York State recently adopted emergency trapping regulations that made it illegal to set traps that could kill dogs near public trails in the state.  The Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners also recently enacted regulations prohibiting trapping within 1,000 feet of designated hiking trails, and prohibiting trapping near trails in Alaska’s Chugach State Park is currently being discussed.

Such publicity isn’t a good thing for trappers, and the resulting legislation isn’t necessarily a good thing either.  Regulations like the ones discussed above arise directly as a result of incidental pets being captured in traps, and can sometimes limit responsible trappers from operating in order to control the problems caused by a few. 

The solution is for us as trappers to educate each other and make sure that the only sets we make near public trails are certain to be dogproof.  It’s true that most areas have leash laws and trappers may be operating in a legal manner when a pet is allowed to roam and is killed in a trap.  But sometimes being legally ‘in the right’ just isn’t enough, and can give a bad reputation to trappers everywhere.  Most of these new regulations are a direct result of political action taken by pet owners who have had a bad experience with traps.

The simple fact is that using common sense and not setting potential pet-catching sets near hiking trails is the best way to prevent damaging the reputation of the rest of the trapping community, and should keep trapping regulations from becoming tougher near public trails.

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