Maine trappers won a small victory this week when the federal judge overseeing a lawsuit by anti-trapping groups rejected their request to restrict trapping in lynx habitat for the rest of the season.
The request to cut the trapping season short in lynx habitat came after a second lynx was killed in a trap in northern Maine, prompting arguments that the state’s trapping laws didn’t do enough to prevent incidental lynx takings. However, an investigation into the second lynx incident showed that the trap was set illegally, by an out-of-state trapper, who will likely be charged with violating the Federal Endangered Species Act.
I believe Judge Woodcock used good common sense when issuing his ruling. Here’s part of his response.
“Here, the plaintiffs have demonstrated that if a trapper violates Maine law and regulation, it may and likely will result in the illegal taking of a lynx,” Woodcock wrote. “However, plaintiffs have produced no new evidence of harm to lynx caused by trappers acting in compliance with existing state law.
“Accordingly, plaintiffs have not shown that the state’s licensure scheme as recently modified violates the [Endangered Species Act],” Woodcock wrote.
While this week’s news was good for trappers, we aren’t anywhere near hearing the last of this. The lawsuit to ban trapping in northern Maine in order to protect lynx is ongoing, and is scheduled for trial in front of Judge Woodcock in Bangor in mid-April.
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