Is trapping and snaring animals defensible?....Trapping, due to its indiscriminate nature, violates the first rule of hunting: Be sure of your target....... Traps and snares will not only kill wolves but catch, injure and kill any species that encounters them, including pets;sensitive, endangered, protected and game species as well............Not much has changed since Charles Darwin in 1863 commented about trapped animals, "it is scarcely possible to exaggerate the suffering thus endured from fear, from acute pain, maddened by thirst, and by vain thus endured from fear, from acute pain, maddened by thirst, and by vain attempts to escape."

Trapping indefensible, cruel to wildlife and pets alike

  by ANJA HEISTER


 It is not surprising the Ravalli County Commissioners did not solicit input
 from Footloose Montana along with other groups they called upon in what they
 say is the creation of a large predator control position paper. To quote
 from the Missoulian, Oct. 21, "Ravalli County commissioners to write 'living
 with wolves' policy," Ravalli County Commissioner Matt Kanenwisher says,
 "Trapping is a prime target for something we'd advocate for."

 Perhaps there is a lack of awareness or concern that thousands of
 steel-jawed leg-hold traps, body-crushing Conibear traps and throat-choking
 snares are already legally set on Montana's public lands - all year long.
 From trappers' voluntary reports, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates
 trappers kill about 40,000-50,000 animals each year - animals they target
 for trapping. No one really knows. There is no license required and no
 trapping limit for most species.

 Trapping, due to its indiscriminate nature, violates the first rule of
 hunting: Be sure of your target. Traps and snares will not only kill wolves
 but catch, injure and kill any species that encounters them, including pets;
 sensitive, endangered, protected and game species as well. Footloose Montana
 promotes trap-free public lands for people, pets and wildlife (www.footloose
 montana.org, and on Facebook).

 .In the past, it was trapping campaigns that drove wolves to the edge of
 extinction. What about the other species? Trapping is a contributing, if not
 leading, cause of the depletion of fishers, otters, lynx, marten and
 wolverines. Swift foxes have been reintroduced twice as a result of trapping
 for wolves and coyotes. Wolverines all but disappeared in the lower 48
 states by the early 1900s due to poisoning and trapping targeted at wolves,
 coyotes and other predators. Montana is the only state that still allows the
 legal trapping of wolverines, which are now on the candidate list for
 endangered species.

 Animals can legally remain stuck in traps and snares for an indefinite
 period of time as there is no required trap check in Montana. Trapping a
 lone male wolverine during its search for a mate over large territories
 compromises the species and the limited gene pool. Inevitable deaths of
 offspring occur with the trapping of animal mothers.

 Scientific studies show trapped animals suffer from fear, anxiety and
 physical pain. They suffer dehydration, starvation, predation, severe
 swelling, lacerations, dislocations, broken teeth and bones. Some freeze to
 death while exposed to the elements. Some chew or twist off their paws in
 order to escape. Not much has changed since Charles Darwin in 1863 commented
 about trapped animals, "it is scarcely possible to exaggerate the suffering
 thus endured from fear, from acute pain, maddened by thirst, and by vain
 attempts to escape."

 While enjoying the outdoors, one shouldn't have to experience the
 traumatizing event of a pet getting injured or even killed as these
 tragedies occur every season. Many Montanans' enjoyment of public lands has
 been tainted by the fear of these hidden undisclosed landmines. Some report
 haunting experiences finding an otter's paw, a trapped marten dangling from
 a tree, a dead fawn caught in a snare, a trapped mountain lion with its dead
 cub at its side or their futile attempts to free their trapped dying pet.

 In 2010, 34,586 signatures were obtained from Montana voters for a trap-free
 public land ballot initiative. Ravalli County was one of the 34 districts
 that qualified the ballot. However, the statewide initiative fell short by
 only 1,500 qualified signatures.

 More people are now educated about the indefensible cruelty, conservation
 and safety concerns of trapping for people, pets and wildlife. "Living with
 wolves" and recommending trapping is an oxymoron. Many Montanans do not want
 more trapping, they want less or none at all.

 Footloose Montana strongly opposes the recreational trapping of all
 wildlife. We stand behind former trapper and renowned wildlife biologist
 Chuck Jonkel's statement, "The days of trapping are over. It is now time to
 preserve wildlife."

 Anja Heister writes on behalf of the Footloose Montana board of directors.