A while back, I reported on a trapping ban instituted by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson in the state's gray wolf recovery area. The ban was placed and extended with the a stipulation that a study would be performed to evaluate trapping's potential impacts to wolves. That study is now underway, with research being conducted by the University of New Mexico. Most trappers … [Read more...]
Massachusetts Works to Amend Trap Ban
Animal rights groups are "all up in a tizzy" over the recent work of the Massachusetts legislature to make a minor change to the ballot initiative passed by voters over a decade ago that banned trapping in the state. Based on the rhetoric, you'd think the legislature were trying to overturn the ban and re-instate legalized trapping in the state. If only. The change would … [Read more...]
Alaska Could Legalize Bear Trapping
The Alaska Board of Game is set to vote on a proposal to legalize the trapping and snaring of bears for the first time in the state's history. The proposal has some animal rights groups angry, but is supported by sportsmen and most residents in the affected areas. ......the head of Alaska's largest sportsmen's group said Friday the agency's proposal to allow bear trapping is … [Read more...]
Raccoons: A Growing Problem in Growing Cities
As cities and towns expand, many are noticing the expansion of wild animals in the urban/outdoors interface. A great example of this is in the town of Bozeman, Montana, a growing area with a growing raccoon problem. A recent Bozeman Daily Chronicle article highlights the raccoon issue with input from two local animal damage control trappers who deal with raccoons … [Read more...]
Change in Trapping Permits for Ohio Public Lands
Controlled Trapping Opportunities for Beaver and River Otter on Publicly Managed Lands On-line application period will be open from September 15 to October 15 COLUMBUS, OH – Beaver and river otter trapping on public land will still require a special permit, but the method of acquiring the permit and permission to trap a particular public land area for beaver and river … [Read more...]
Tips to Trappers
It's always nice to learn a little bit about trapping history. For instance, many of today's young trappers don't realize how big trapping was as an industry in the U.S. during our grandparents' early days. Being such a large part of our country's economy (and being more accepted by society), trapping and the fur trade were markets sought after by mega-retailers like Sears … [Read more...]
Heimo Korth’s Arctic Refuge
I watched this video on Heimo Korth the other day. After seeing an old National Geographic video featuring Korth and his family filmed over a decade ago, and reading his book, "The Final Frontiersman", I was excited to see a new documentary on Heimo and his wife. This family lives the ultimate wilderness lifestyle in the middle of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with … [Read more...]
Otters Return to Indiana
After many decades of extinction, river otters have returned to the state of Indiana. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources re-introduced otters beginning 15 years ago in hopes to re-establish the species. About 300 individuals were introduced, and otters are now found in over 70 counties throughout the state. "We started by releasing 25 otters at the Muscatuck National … [Read more...]