I was leisurely reading the Billings Gazette Saturday morning when I happened upon a guest opinion article by Zack Strong from the National Defense Research Council. I was sickened and disheartened . . . and then compelled to take action. Here's the gist of the article from an anti-trappers point of view: In May, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks voted down a petition to require trappers to check traps on a daily basis. Both targeted "furbearers" and non-targeted animals are destined to await their fate indefinitely. Obviously the unfortunate furbearers have NO chance of survival - but rather than a swift death it may be slow and agonizing! For the non-targeted animals, the longer they are trapped, the less likely they are to survive after release and their numbers are significant. According to the article, between 2010 and 2014 at least 89 mountain lions, 12 black bears, 3 grizzlies, 4 wolverines, 3 lynx, 21 bobcats, 31 river otters and 9 deer were trapped. Over the course of just 1 year (2013-2014) 58 dogs were caught in traps!
As a reason for vetoing the daily requirement, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks commissioners cited "A 24 hour trap check is inappropriate for Montana's big landscape and would severely limit lawful opportunity to trappers". Montana is the fourth largest state. Thanks to Google, I found that 2 of the 3 bigger states (Texas and California) require daily checks. So do New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado (5,6 and 8th largest). In fact, we are one of the last states without the daily trap checking requirement which, by the way, is endorsed by the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
We, the public, were not given a chance to voice an opinion. I would love to see trapping abolished altogether. This is not likely to happen anytime soon but at least we can lessen the suffering and cruelty. Please sign the petition before June 17th or contact the Montana FWP at fwpwld@mt.gov and give the animals a voice!
"There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest." - Eli Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Laureate
Thank you,
Teresa Otto
