OR: petition to Fish & Wildlife Commission

Post date: Apr 12, 2012 6:54:16 PM

The following organizations petitioned the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission for stronger trapping regulations on 3/9/2012.

Key points:

  1. Require all trappers to check their traps and snares every 24 hours;
  2. Require trappers to attach tags to their traps and snares with their name and telephone number;
  3. Prohibit traps and snares on public lands within 100 feet of trails and other premises used by the public; and
  4. Require trappers to post clearly visible warning signs within a five-foot radius of their traps and snares on public lands, stating that their devices pose a danger to the safety of humans and animals.

Exemptions: trapping of gophers, moles, mountain beavers, rats and mice on property owned by the person setting the traps.

Analysis by SS-Slocum.info

Point #3 doesn't go far enough, but otherwise the key points of this petition make sense, and correspond to the following traits of a humane, responsible trapper:

  1. checks his traps at least once a day,
  2. is personally accountable for his actions,
  3. does not set traps that are likely to injure or kill non-target animals (e.g. dogs),
  4. keeps his neighbors informed of his activities.

(This is not meant to be a complete list of all the traits of a humane, responsible trapper; only a four-point list to correspond with the four key points of this petition.)