A two year old bill that banned trapping in roadside ditches in Nebraska has now been overturned. Concerns over trapping non-target animals motivated the original bill's passing, but problems with flooding and land damage have proven the need for trapping to resume in these areas. Individual counties still have the right to ban roadside trapping within their jurisdictional … [Read more...]
Judge Rejects Request to Stall Trapping in Lynx Habitat in Maine
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 … [Read more...]
Second Lynx Killed in Northern Maine
Another Canada lynx has been reported killed in a trap in northern Maine this week, but this time the animal was found dead by a Maine state game warden after following tracks in the woods. This is the second lynx confirmed killed by trapping this year, further indicating that the lynx population is as abundant as it's ever been, but its prey densities are declining, causing … [Read more...]
Maine Trapping Laws Change Again, To Avoid Taking Lynx
After the accidental trapping death of a Canada lynx in northern Maine on November 17th, in the midst of a lawsuit by environmentalists aimed at halting trapping, the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has adopted new regulations to avoid another such incident. You can see the photo below, provided to the media by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and … [Read more...]
Lynx Killed in Northern Maine Could Affect Lawsuit
Talk about bad timing for Maine trappers. Just when it looked like trappers were making headway defending a lawsuit by animal rights groups to ban land trapping in northern Maine, a lynx was reportedly killed in a trap set for other furbearing species this week. The dead lynx will undoubtably be used by animal rights groups to show that Maine's trapping activities are harming … [Read more...]
Maine Lynx Lawsuit Update
Skip Trask, of the Maine Trappers Association, put together this update on the Maine lynx lawsuit hearing held in Bangor this week: UPDATE 11/10/2008 - First of all, I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you that suspended your trapline activities to attend the hearing in Bangor this afternoon. The hearing was held in a very small courtroom, and there was not … [Read more...]
Judge Hears Arguments in Lawsuit to Restrict Trapping in Maine
Yet another lawsuit aimed at ending trapping in Maine is being battled in court this week. On Monday, a federal judge heard arguments from animal rights activists suing the State of Maine for allowing trapping practices that resulted in the capture of the 'threatened' Canada lynx. Just last year, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife settled with the Animal … [Read more...]
Wolverine Quota Reduced, But Trapping Opportunity Remains in Montana
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently voted to continue to allow wolverine trapping in the state, but has reduced the quota from ten animals to an allowable harvest of five wolverines statewide. The quota reduction was based on biological data and recommendations from agency biologists that suggested the harvest should be cut back. While trappers would … [Read more...]