Category: Trapped Montana Pets

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.

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.

Bethany was caught in a trap a month ago. The trap broke her leg causing a compound fracture. The bone was exposed through the skin. She didn’t receive medical care. She was in distress and chewed through her own leg.
https://www.facebook.com/RezQDogs/photos/a.419756485933.213390.273406585…

While some in Montana try to preserve trapping claiming it’s a heritage, the trapping of dogs has become an increasing fact in trapping tradition. At least two of the traps found last week were about 200 feet from a maintained, designated walking trail, Whiskey Gulch area west of Montana Tech. One trap was tripped by a human — who wasn’t hurt. In another incident, a dog was caught. And in yet another, a skunk had been snagged. Until we achieve trap free Montana public lands, this is not the first or last we will hear of trapping holding us hostage from our right to safely recreate on our public lands. In the same vicinity, Bandit, pictured below, was trapped Dec 2013, behind Montana tech, more on the Rocker side off of Browns Gulch road during a short walk just a few feet from the road as his owner stopped to grab treats. In releasing the trap from her traumatized Bandit, the trap slammed shut causing a good deal of swelling to her finger and she wound up with cuts and bruises on both hands. A month later her hands had healed but her finger was still very sore. She ripped the trap out in her fury and turned it into the warden. Especially for her, “Seeing the pain and terror my dog went through just being caught in it for a minute was horrible.” She said she would never walk there again.

And its stories like these, that keep us fighting. This Bozeman beloved pet missing for a week was caught in a trap and might lose her leg, and hopefully not her life. We have no required trap check time interval in Montana. Trappers don’t even have to assist a trapped pet, they are just required to report it,…..then they can just let it go. What this poor dog & her family have been through is horrific. Our prayers for Bea’s healing!

Another innocent victim, another “Trapper”, in Montana, courtesy of the indiscriminate cruelty of trapping, for days running scared, with a trap attached, in pain. How many more “Trappers” will there be? The last known one was a cat in Hamilton who lost its leg as a result. Thank you to all those that didn’t give up, that helped this poor frightened and hurting dog. Our trapped wildlife need such allies. No animal should be allowed to be treated this way. It is never with a clear conscience that we have a full stomach, a warm home, and sleep at night knowing another is in pain. The last six days have been a fairly steady diet of restless nights. On Saturday, it was reported to us that there was a young dog running loose with a leg hold trap (most likely meant for a coyote) on its leg. Animal Control Officer along with other Fish & Game officers tried to catch it. We tried to catch it and we tried to live trap it. Even in what I can only imagine to be excruciating pain, with hunger gnawing at its stomach, and in the freezing cold, it has been too smart. It has eluded us. Until now. With the assistance of Ft. Belknap Animal Control Officer, Greg, we got her. This man showed true dedication and compassion to help despite today being his day off. Thank you Greg! We couldn’t have done it without you! This, my friends, is “Trapper.” A young female that is scared to death. Although the trap is now removed, and she is on pain as well as antibiotic medicines (thank you to our awesome Bear Paw Veterinary Service), she is still scared. And still in pain. Tonight she eats. Tonight she sleeps in warmth without danger of harm. She does not know that yet but she will. And we will sleep better. After we catch up on the chores (smile). The day may not have started out warm and toasty but…it was a good day. When you get a moment, do us a favor and send warm wishes to Trapper. She may be out of the woods but she is not quite home yet. Not yet.

Morgan was trapped in a snare on FS land about 1000 feet below their house which borders the forest in Montana. The three month old Pyrenees, Sam, was caught in a leghold trap at the same time. Both dogs were attracted to the rotten beaver meat used as bait. The trapper reportedly knew the owners and knew them well, knew the dogs. and never ever will be forgiven. Other trappers have quit trapping when they caused the trapping of a pet! While some care, many obviously do not.

Morgan died 11 days later after being caught in the snare from what trappers call this commonality, “jelly head.” When the snare doesn’t close sufficiently in strangling the victim it constricts the jugular vein on the outside of the neck, cutting off blood returning to the heart. Meanwhile, the carotid artery keeps pumping blood into the brain, causing a buildup and swelling from thick bloody fluid eventually rupturing the vascular system resulting in the brain exploding.

Sam, the pup, survived the leghold trap.

There simply is no need for this cruel indiscriminate deadly recreation! No animal deserves this.

“Greetings Trap Free Montana, I truly appreciate that you lobby for safer public lands. Thank you! Unfortunately, this is the third time I’ve dealt with an unnecessary trapping event. ” The first happened to my 10 yr. old German Shepherd and the second, which happened that same day and in the same area, trapped my own foot. Both traps were set at the Kelley Island fishing access and adjacent to a trail utilized by folks who access the river, but Fish Wildlife and Parks couldn’t deem it illegal….they could only deem it a lack of total common sense on the part of the trapper. The third time, which happened last week, was in the Twin Creeks area along an intermittent stream and it caught my 5 year old Shepherd. The area is heavily utilized by hikers and x-country skiers but there’s no formal road or trail along the stream, so trapping there is legal as far as I know. I’ve hiked there for the last 20 years and never run across a trap, so whoever set it isn’t familiar with the level of recreational use in the area or they simply don’t care. I try to be responsible and I’m not from an anti-hunting mentality. However, I do believe that trapping is an antiquated, rude method of hunting that’s cruel to animals and infringes on the rights of others who utilize public lands. With so many of us out there using public lands, it seems a bit unfair to all of us who don’t trap to have to endure the various trapping seasons that last three-quarters of the year. I know when the general hunting season is and I can act accordingly by staying out of the woods for much of the season, but traps are another deal entirely. They’re often near water where all of us like to play. The seasons run for about 9 months and they can be indiscriminate, as is proven by my family. I don’t go around indiscriminately injuring others on public lands. I can’t be angry at the trapper who trapped my dog because he or she did nothing illegal, but it’s definitely time for me to re-think trapping and I’m grateful to all of you out there that have already moved in that direction.” name protected Missoula Montana

Monte’s enjoyment visiting a favorite swimming spot along the Bitterroot river, ended in unforgettable tragedy.

“It’s always been one of our favorite places.” It looked like her toes were mangled,” Ramberg said. “I wasn’t quite sure what kind of recovery she would have.”

“It was terrible and ridiculous. What is a beaver trap doing in a public fishing and swimming area? My best friend had to go through something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/man-s-dog-caught-in-illega… If someone says to me, ‘it was just a dog,’ I think I will scream. I was there to hear her screaming and was there to see her fear in her eyes and the pain she fought.” Ramberg said. In this rare instance in Montana, the trapper was actually found, cited and ordered to pay the vet bills. The majority of times, that does not happen. Pet owners, wildlife rehabbers, veterinarians and tax payers incur the costs of “incidental” trapping victims. Animals and their owners incur the life long emotional and sometimes physical scars of the irresponsible, indiscriminate and cruel recreation of trapping. Traps and snares are frequented along Montana waterways catching, torturing, sometimes killing our faithful dogs and any creature that falls victim to them. Our initiative would achieve safe responsible and ethical use of our public lands free from these hidden and indiscriminate landmines for ourselves, our pets and wildlife. Our initiative requires warning postings for the trapping exceptions on Montana public land.

February 22, 2015 Two dogs caught in traps just turned in to Missoula Animal Control. These are above and beyond the 21 known in Montana in the last few months, one of which “at large” was killed. Montana FWP reports list 104 dogs in the past couple of years! Some were with owners present and some reported “at large”, most on public land and the majority are in legal trap sets! Dog owners need to know, trappers are not required to check their traps within any time period other than sets for wolves require 48 hr checks. Trappers have to report to FWP any trapped dogs, other than their own, now within 24 hrs. Other than that they can simply let the dog go, injured or not, with id tags or not. This happens and dogs are known to sometimes later lose legs, die as a result from the trapping. No records of trapped cats are kept but it happens. Owners of missing/lost pets need to contact their regional FWP office to see if a dog in their region was reported trapped. Shelters, Dog lost and found groups, Animal Control, need to provide missing pet owners the number at FWP to call. It may just save a dog’s life. We can do much better than this friends and have to! From Missoula Animal Control: The shelter has received two dogs yesterday and today that have been caught in coyote foot traps near Kona Ranch Rd. /Mullan. The dogs have been ok, luckily. If you own a pet and live in that area PLEASE use caution and watch where you wander off to. Two dogs caught in traps just turned in to Missoula Animal Control