Accidentally Trapped Dog Reports According to FWP, 2012-2015
To help try to find your missing dog, contact your regional Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks headquarters regarding trapped dogs.
Region 1 (Kalispell)(406) 752-5501 Region 2 (Missoula)(406) 542-5500 Region 3 (Bozeman)(406) 994-4042 Region 4 (Great Falls)(406) 454-5840 Region 5 (Billings)(406) 247-2940 Region 6 (Glasgow)(406) 228-3700 Region 7 (Miles City)(406) 234-0900 Note trappers are now required to report trapped dogs, other than their own, to FWP within 24 hours. However, they do not have to assist the dog, contact the owner, or turn the dog in. They can simply let it go. We have no required trap check interval in Montana, other than sets for wolves must be checked every 48 hours. Petowners are not required to report the trapping of their pet and we know some never do and others simply never make it on the report.
2012-2013
Accidentally Trapped Dog Reports Received by FWP 2012-2013
2013-2014
Accidentally Trapped Dog Reports Received by FWP 2013-2014
2014-2015
Accidentally Trapped Dog Reports Received by FWP 2014-2015
21 dogs in 3 months reported trapped from the start of 2014/2015 Montana furbearer trapping season. One was killed, without an owner present reported "at large". Was it a beloved missing pet or one that never even knew what that was like?
We are extremely sorry many of you suffered this horrendous unforgettable tragedy! We applaud you for giving testimony and sharing with us, the legislators, the media, your painful experience. We are sorry this indiscriminate and unnecessary suffering will continue until we stop it at least on our public lands whereby only the trapper knows the whereabouts of these hidden baited landmines that legally can and do stretch for miles!
Representative Wagoner sponsor of HB 212 "reaffirming trapping is a form of hunting protected under the Montana constitution", testified in closing on Tues 2/10 before the Senate Fish and Game department that from 2008-2010, there were 4 reported mortalities of dogs according to FWP reports. Previously, Rep. Wagoner said traps are harmless.
What Rep. Wagoner failed also to testify or did not know, is in just the last few years, Montana FWP trapping regulations state, "To improve understanding of accidental dog captures in traps or snares, trappers must report such captures, excluding trapper's dog to FWP regional office", within 48 hours. For 2014 it was shortened to within 24 hours.
Trappers leave these baited and lured indiscriminate cruel devices unattended and lay the blame, responsibility, and cost on you to avoid them! Montana FWP has no jurisdiction over the trapping of species classified as predators and nongame and therefore setbacks of traps from trails need not apply and traps and snares are encountered right along trails.
Dog owner's testify, the haunting frantic memories of their trapped pets, but what, too, of those that are never heard and all those that never get to come back home, uninjured, alive with owner or "at large"?
This is no way to treat man's bestfriend!
