Trapped Birds

Another, known, Great Horned Owl in Montana caught in a leghold trap

by Kate Boyd

February 7,2016 – Near Turah, MT
Another, known, Great Horned Owl in Montana caught in a leghold trap. This trap weighed basically as much as the Owl. In Montana, the majority of the “incidental” trapping victims, including Eagles, Owls, Mtn Lions, dogs, etc. have been deemed a result of legal trapping. Why? Because trapping is inherently indiscriminate. As long as the few regulations are followed the pain, suffering, and death of any trapped animal species is therefore excused accordingly. The Great Horned Owl had to have a talon removed. The longer in a trap, the more damage that is done. We have no required trap check time period in Montana other than wolf trap sets are 48 hrs.

Photo courtesy of Wild Skies Raptor Center.

Just before removing the trap. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Hannon who spotted the owl and made the effort to get him some help.

Photo courtesy of Wild Skies Raptor Center.

Sources / References:
Wild Skies Raptor Center

Non-Targets Trapped Elsewhere

Bear cub killed as a result of a snare

by Kate Boyd

Winter and prevalent trapping diminishes as animals shed out their desirable furs. Yet the evident cruelty of trapping is timeless. A bear cub has become another known innocent victim of trapping and is killed as a result of a snare. A snare costs only a couple of dollars. Therefore, they are set out often in large numbers, usually baited, carelessly, forgotten, irresponsibly as is characteristic of trapping. Trapping, including the use of snares, is legal in Montana year round. How many victims of trapping are there?

Wild and Free

Photo courtesy Wild and Free This cub was brought to us with an illegal snare around its neck. Unfortunately the bear’s injuries were too extensive to treat. He was humanely euthanized and the authorities are looking into the illegal snare.

Trapped Montana Pets

Reese , believed to have been trapped finds his way back home

by Kate Boyd

Dog believed to have been trapped finds his way back home. We thank whoever likely released him. It would have been better if they had gotten him to a shelter, a vet, called the owner, contacted us, something, but at least Reese is now home! Kalispell, MT. Trapping is going full blown in Montana for trappers to get the best furs possible even for the low, low prices. Traps and snares are not marked. They are secreted with lures and bait to draw any unsuspecting creature in. We have no required trap check time interval, except for wolves are permitted to suffer in traps for up to 48 hrs. Trappers say the number one reason they trap is for the fun of it.

Trapped Montana Pets

Akita was caught for days in a leghold trap set for wolves

by Kate Boyd

January 18 Akita was caught for days in a leghold trap set for wolves near Westside Ninemile Rd, Alberton, Montana. The trapper was cited for not checking his wolf trap sets in the required 48 hours. Ice reportedly had to be chipped away from around the trap. The dog will almost certainly lose its leg after this horrendous ordeal.

Photo courtesy: Brian Deschamps

January 19 The Akita, Darby, found caught for 5-6 days in a leghold trap for wolves, with its paw and trap frozen in the ground, is in need of a new home and help with vet bills. Our question is since the trapper was cited for not checking his traps set for wolves in the required 48 hours, why isn’t he being made to pay the vet bills? Look at this poor dog’s leg and tell us again how traps don’t do damage and inflict suffering? From the blatant publicized vocal hatred some have for wolves, clearly trappers don’t care what our trapped wildlife endures. They were among the ones that denied this happened to Darby in the first place.

Photo courtesy: The Humane Society of Western Montana

January 19 Darby’s surgery was done. They did not amputate her entire leg. We have an inkling of the pain and fear she endured for a reported 5 days trapped frozen in a large leghold trap set for wolves. Now Darby has had to go through this, too, as a result. To think, unlike what happens to wildlife, she is considered a lucky victim of trapping. What will the trapper have to endure for his failure to check his traps in the 48 hr requirement applicable ONLY for sets for wolves?

What of his conscious and will he stop trapping or will the courts decide that for him?

Photo courtesy: The Humane Society of Western Montana
Victims & Consequences

Who should you fear more?

by Kate Boyd

Who should you fear more?

125 wolves have been reported killed thus far in Montana this season. 106 by hunting, and 19 since the Dec 15 opening of trapping.

The number of non-targets caught in traps set for wolves are not yet known.

Non-targets caught in wolf trap sets are REQUIRED to be reported to FWP whether injured or not.

Non-Targets Trapped Elsewhere

Dogproof coon traps are a horrendous piece of equipment

by Kate Boyd

Here is what one wildlife rehab center had to say about enclosed foothold traps, aka dogproof coon traps. “I am shocked to see the animal in this condition,” says Ashley Kinney, wildlife rehabilitation supervisor for the center. “I have never seen such a horrendous piece of equipment — almost like a scene out of a horror movie.” Trappers like them because the animal cannot chew off or gnaw on their paw as they customarily do to try to escape the foothold trap. Not surprising, these traps, too, are legal in Montana.

Photo courtesy: Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley
Trapped Montana Pets

A little Chihuahua, Dutley, caught in trap

by Kate Boyd

Another dog in Montana caught in a trap forever changing the tradition of going in the woods for a Christmas tree.

What started out as a fun, family outing quickly turned into a harrowing experience for the Baughman family. A few weeks ago, they were near their home up Petty Creek, near Alberton searching for the perfect Christmas tree, along with some friends.

Suddenly, they heard cries from their little Chihuahua, Dutley, several feet away.
Read the article: Trapping continues to be challenged

Growing attention to the many wrongs of trapping is appreciated and necessary. However, a few things from the article are important to expand upon.

Note for the most recent info we have, almost 6,000 trapping licenses were sold in Montana 2013/2014, a decrease from previous years. Given the very low prices now for most furs, the downward trend is expected.

The 500 foot setbacks for traps in high use areas were a result of the hard work from a small group out of Bozeman, the acknowledgment of FWP, and apply only to Region/Trapping District (TD). TD1. TD 3. Hyalite Area. Bozeman Face Trails. West Bridger Mountains. Gallatin Canyon. Paradise Valley. Otherwise, traps and snares for furbearing animals can be set 30 feet from the centerline of a public road, 50 feet from a public trail and 300 or 1000 feet from public trail heads and campgrounds, depending upon whether the trap is lethal or non-lethal.

Traps set for wolves require a 150 foot setback along open roads and hiking trails that are designated by administrative signs or numbers and 1,000 feet off a designated or marked trailhead accessible by highway vehicle.

Traps and snares for species classified as “predators” do not need to abide by these setbacks as they fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Livestock, not FWP.

We are grateful this little dog is okay but the act of trapping itself is not and is no longer justifiable in this day and age.

Legal trapping opened Dec 1 in Montana for Bobcat, Fisher, & Pine Marten

by Kate Boyd

The legal trapping season opened, Dec 1, in Montana, for these 3 remaining species classified as “furbearers”. For a $29 purchase of a trapping license, Montanans can NOW also trap:

  • a total of 1655 Bobcat,
  • 7 of the rare Fisher,
  • and for Pine Marten….UNLIMITED!

As a Montana retired US Forest Service district ranger once said to us, upon signing our 2014 ballot initiative, “It’s not like we are being overrun with furbearer”.

To stay abreast of Montana trapping season dates, quotas and numbers reported trapped, visit our website. See Home page, MT FWP links on the right.

Bobcat

Bobcat trapping season in Montana starts Dec 1.
Western and Southwestern Districts 1,2, 3, ends Feb 15.
Central and Eastern Districts 4, 5, 6, 7 ends March 1.
Closures are dependent on number reported trapped in each district.

Total allowable Bobcat quota trapped for 2015/2016 is 1655.

The lucrative fur of the Bobcat is sought for the demands predominantly of Russia and China. The foreign market currently is negatively impacting the fur trade.
Will that stop trappers?

Fisher

7 Fisher are permitted to be trapped and killed between Dec 1 to Feb 15 from Districts 1 and 2 only.

While other states work on reintroducing Fisher, Montana has a trapping quota on them. Small but why at all?

Pine Marten

Pine Marten legal trapping season in Montana runs Dec 1 – Feb 15.

This cat size boreal animal lives in the forests and feeds predominantly on rodents, i.e squirrels, voles, shrews, mice.

When you see tracks in the snow off a trail into the trees that could mean baited conibears, aka, body crushing, traps in the branches to trap and crush these captivating species.

In Montana, the Marten can be trapped in unlimited numbers.

Trapped Montana Pets

Poor feral kitten lost its paw to a trap

by Kate Boyd

Another “Trapper” victim in Montana, this poor feral kitten lost its paw to a trap and with the bone sticking out, amputation of the leg was deemed necessary. It had to be a rough start for this young kitty, now cared for, newly adopted, and away from trappers where with love it can learn to trust humans.