New Mexico Governor Bans Trapping in Wolf Recovery Area

Amidst a slew of propaganda from animal rights activists and members of the media, New Mexico governor Bill Richardson ordered the New Mexico Game and Fish Department to impose a six month ban on trapping in the area along the New Mexico-Arizona border where gray wolves were introduced beginning in 1998.

The ban halts trapping in the area until a study can be completed to evaluate the impacts of traps on wolves.  It’s assumed that after the study, the Game and Fish Department will impose new restrictions on trapping to minimize potential impacts on the wolves, if trapping is allowed to resume at all.  Just how they are going to carry out this study without actually ‘hurting’ more wolves is beyond me.

The New Mexico trapping ban is just the latest in a long line of recent trapping bans and restrictions all across the country, aiming to ‘reduce impacts’ on ‘endangered species’, many of which have been introduced by the government that’s restricting trapping to protect them.

Another interesting observation is the fact that trapping of all types is being banned in the area, not just trapping activities that could impact wolves.  For instance, under the executive order it will be illegal to trap with underwater sets for muskrats, or to use live cage traps for bobcat.

It should be interesting to see how the New Mexico trapping ban plays out, especially since the state will have a new governor after the upcoming elections.  We’ll be sure to keep you posted on any new developments.

Click here to read Richardson’s executive order

Here are a couple of related news stories:

Richardson orders temporary wolf-trapping ban

NM governor suspends trapping in wolf area

Here’s a map of the recovery area where the trapping ban will be enacted:

Thanks From MEWM

Here’s a message from Montanans for Effective Wildlife Management, the group that successfully fought off the effort to ban trapping in Montana:

I 160, the anti trapping ballot initiative, failed to qualify for the November 2010 ballot.

The MEWM Steering Committee, Pac/West, the hundreds of organizations, businesses and individuals who contributed monetarily, as well as the many individuals who have actively dispelled the inaccurate statements through press releases, letters to the editor and personal appearances—you deserve thanks and praise.  It was through your donations and efforts that a sufficient number of signatures to qualify I 160 were not obtained.

How close was it? There were 34,586 signatures turned in statewide at the county level, but only 20,318 were accepted and sent to the Secretary of State.  The proponents of I 160 failed in their voluntary efforts and began paying signature gatherers; according to their financial data filed to date, signature gatherers were paid a little over $12,000.00 in this campaign.

We will be obtaining information as to which legislative districts qualified the initiative and how many signatures were gathered in each legislative district. We will then know where to direct our efforts in the future.

The battle is not over, as Connie Poten (Footloose Montana) said, “If we didn’t make it, it’s just practice because we’ll be doing it again”. Any funds left over from the campaign, as well as additional monies will be put into efforts to seek a legislative solution to end or slow down the management of Montana’s wildlife through the ballot initiative process.  A skirmish has been won, now we move to the legislative battlefield.

Once again – Thank You

Montana Trap Ban Will Not Make Ballot

The initiative that could have ended trapping as we know it in the state of Montana will not be on the ballot this November.  With the deadline past for supporters of I-160, the effort to ban trapping on public lands in Montana, to gather enough signatures to put the question to the voters in November, signature numbers have fallen short.

Although the animal rights groups came very close to gathering the number of signatures needed to qualify the question for the ballot (20,318 of a needed 24,337), the shortfall signifies that there isn’t enough support (yet) for a ban on traditional trapping practices in the state.

Trappers dodged a bullet this time around, with Montanans for Effective Wildlife Management leading the charge to educate the public on why the trap ban would be a terrible idea.  Coming this close to getting the needed signatures, however, means that these groups will most certainly be back, and hopefully Montanans will be ready to fight them off again.

Trapping in Montana is a time honored tradition and a well-regulated wildlife management tool in the state even today.  The trap ban would have hindered the ability of Montanans to manage wildlife populations, control predator numbers and prevent animal damage.

Kids Trapping Program Director Receives Award

Guy Erasmus, who heads up the “Take a Kid Trapping” program as part of the Canadian government’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, received a prestigious award from the Fur Institute of Canada.

It’s great to see successful programs like this that promote trapping for the next generation.  Here’s the press release:

GNWT Employee Receives National Award from the Fur Institute of Canada

R(16)463  - Thursday, June 24, 2010

The Fur institute of Canada (FIC) has recognized a Government of the Northwest Territories employee for his commitment to the trapping industry.The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment’s (ITI) Robert (Guy) Erasmus has been chosen as the recipient of the 2010 Jim Bourque Award. The FIC presents the award annually in recognition of an individual that reflects Bourque’s commitment to the sustainable use of resources, improved animal welfare, the development of Canada’s modern fur trade, the recognition of Aboriginal peoples’ cultures and the stewardship role that trappers play in the conservation and management of Canada’s wildlife.

Mr. Erasmus was nominated for his central role in the founding, development and implementation of ITI’s Take A Kid Trapping Program. This program began in 2002 and has been successfully implemented in all regions of the Northwest Territories, with nearly 1,500 youth taking part in the program in 2009/2010. Over 8,000 youth have enrolled in the program since its inception.

“Mr. Erasmus has done a remarkable job in promoting the traditional economy to NWT youth through the Take a Kid Trapping Program” said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment Bob McLeod. “His work has contributed greatly to traditional life skills development and to the NWT’s traditional economy, and I want to offer my congratulations to Mr. Erasmus on receiving this well-deserved honour.”

The award announcement was made at the 2010 FIC Annual Banquet in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The FIC annually recognizes outstanding individual achievements in the Canadian trapping industry with a variety of awards.

Through programs like the Take a Kid Trapping Program, ITI and the GNWT are working towards developing healthy, educated Northerners and safe, sustainable communities as envisioned in the 16th Legislative Assembly’s Northerners Working Together strategic vision.

For more information, contact:

Darren Campbell
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Industry, Tourism and Investment
867-920-8696

Idaho Approves Wolf Trapping in 2010

This week, the Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved the use of trapping to harvest wolves for the upcoming wolf season in the state.  The preliminary approval does not set specific wolf trapping regulations, but simply approves trapping as a method of take.  Detailed seasons and regulations pertaining to wolf trapping would be specified prior to the beginning of the season.

If the wolf trapping season becomes a reality, Idaho would become the first state in the lower 48 to allow wolf trapping in the modern era.  This would provide an incredible opportunity for trappers in Idaho while helping accomplish the state’s wolf management goals.

Read more here.

Animal Rights Wackos Threaten Trapper’s Life

Trappers are persecuted every day by folks who care more about animal rights than public safety, wise resource use and traditional values.  In just another on a long list of such incidents, Chicago-area animal damage control trapper Rob Erickson received death threats and other harassing messages from the crazies after trapping several coyotes that were threatening public safety.

Read the full story here.

Ancient Trapping Techniques

C.J. Williams over at Trapping Supplies Review has an interesting post on some really ancient techniques for trapping animals. C.J. has been doing a great job building this site and has posted some real quality material lately.
Check out the post here.

Trapper Charged With Illegal Lynx Trapping

Hefty fines and some serious jail time could be in the future of a Pennsylvania man who reportedly caught a lynx in an illegal set while trapping in northern Maine.

The Bangor Daily News has the story.

In the winter of 2008, Maine was a hotbed of activity on the trapping front (read more here).  A lawsuit filed by animal rights activist groups sought to ban many forms of trapping in the state and resulted in major changes to the Maine’s trapping regulations.  During that time, it was rumored that lynx were still being caught despite the new regulations and the plaintiffs demanded that the trapping season be suspended.  Snowshoe hare populations were low at the time, meaning lynx were very hungry and much more easily trapped.  When a lynx was reportedly caught in the Stacyville area, trappers were quick to point out that it was caught in an illegal set, and should not play a part in influencing new regulations.  Sure enough, Mr. McCoy’s traps were not set according to the new Maine law, and now he’s paying the price.

Be sure to read the comments section in the Bangor Daily News article.  As always, they’re interesting and provide insight from animal rights wacko’s as well as the son of the man charged with the crimes.

F&T’s North American Trapper

I caught an episode of F&T’s North American Trapper for the first time this afternoon.  The new show is the first of its kind to feature all trapping all the time.

Today’s episode featured Johnny Thorpe on his fisher trapline in the Adirondacks of New York.  Johnny demonstrated how to make a few different sets, trap modifications, and other tips and tricks relating to fisher trapping.  Thorpe is truly a professional and did a great job explaining his fisher methods.

Between segments of Thorpe’s trapping footage, host Alan Probst talked about animal disease during the short “Conservation Minute” segment and gave a short plug for the National Trappers Association.  During the commercials, it was interesting to see advertisements from familiar trapping names like Duke, F&T Fur Harvesters Post, USA Foxx, Trapper and Predator Caller, and others.

Overall, the show was interesting and informative, but it wasn’t spectacular.  The video and audio quality weren’t the best, and it looked like they just pulled segments straight from Thorpe’s fisher video rather than actually visiting him on the line and doing something specifically for the show.

Still, trappers can’t be too picky, as this is the only trapping show available on television and it’s still a lot of fun to watch.  While it could have been better, I enjoyed my first episode of North American Trapper and will continue to watch it throughout the season.  The show should do a great job educating a wider audience about the science and techniques behind the modern sport of trapping.

Look for a website in the near future at natrapper.com and catch the episodes on Wednesdays at 6pm and Thursdays at 11pm EST on DirecTV channel 344 and Dish Network channel 230.