TALKING POINTS
WU has in the past, and continues to, assert that the following trapping regulation changes are necessary.
Trap Free Areas (Legislature and/or Commission) - Ask for trap-free areas for heavily used public recreation areas in Teton County, Fremont County and statewide. Access to trap free lands is a public right. Examples of “a highly used public area” in Teton County are Cache Creek, Game Creek, Old Pass Road, Snow King Trail Network, Teton Canyon and Darby Canyon. Today, the overall use of the Cache Creek trail system continues to rise and is estimated as high as 1526 daily, with an annual average of 400 people per day per a trail counter data summary 2019. GIS maps of these areas shows the trail count numbers, and the need for trapping closures. Overall Map.
24-Hour Trap Checks (Legislature) - Support of 24-hour trap checks statewide by writing your state representatives. Changing this law will require action by the Wyoming State Legislature. Wyoming is one of fourteen states that have not addressed the need for 24-hour trap checks. Wyoming state law currently requires a 72-hour check for leg hold traps and up to 13 days for snares and quick kill traps. Long trap check cycles result in suffering, pain, dehydration, starvation and loss of litters when a female/mother is trapped. For family pets that have been trapped, a 24-hour trap check could mean the difference between life and death.
Trap Set Backs (Commission) - Trap setbacks of 300 feet off of busy public trails statewide. The public has a right to safe travel on trails, this right extends to their traveling companions, including dogs and livestock.
Mandatory Signage (Legislature) - Caution signs, warning recreationists, hunters, anglers and non-consumptive users of the dangers of trapping and specific trap placement on public lands, should be a mandatory requirement.
Mandatory Reporting – Non-Target and Pets (Legislature) - Reporting of all non-target species trapped and/or killed, including pets. Trappers and the Wyoming Game and Fish would argue that trapping is a management tool. Without mandatory reporting there is no data, without data there is no management.
Mandatory Reporting – All Species (Legislature) - Reporting of all species trapped. See above. Trappers and the Wyoming Game and Fish would argue that trapping is a management tool. Without mandatory reporting there is no data, without data there is no management.
Mandatory Trapper Education (Legislature) - Mandatory trapper education should be a requirement. Idaho’s mandatory Trapper Education Law went into effect July 1, 2018. This law requires first-time trappers to complete a Trapper Education Course before purchasing a license. The class is designed to teach trappers how to “minimize impact on others” as well as best practices to avoid trapping, injuring and killing non-target animals. Wyoming is lagging behind our neighboring states on trap reform that would make our public lands safer for all.
Ban of all trigger-loaded Power snares and Senneker snares (Legislature and/or Commission)- Power Snares and Senneker snares are extremely lethal, non-target species including pets are killed almost instantly. These traps should not be allowed on Wyoming landscapes.
Mandatory Conservation Stamp Purchase (Legislature) - “Funds from the conservation stamp purchase are used to support habitat and wildlife projects in Wyoming”. (WGFD) Anglers and Hunters are required to purchase a Conservation Stamp, trappers are not. Trappers, who use the public’s wildlife for economic gain, should, more than any other user, be required to purchase a Conservation Stamp.
Live Traps (Commission) - Live traps should be used wherever and whenever possible. Live traps would ensure that non-target species, including protected and endangered species, can be released unharmed. Snares, leg hold, Conibear, Senneker and Power Snares are non-discriminate, they kill and maim regardless of species and protection status.
Require all traps and snares to be removed at the end of trapping season (Legislature) - Thousands of traps and snares are left behind on our public landscapes at the end of trapping season. Some remain active. Trappers should be responsible for cleaning up all litter and hazards which they have placed on the land.
Initiate statewide trapping reform stakeholder task force outside of WGFD (Legislature) - Trapping reform awareness statewide is growing rapidly which is initiating more public involvement and demand for immediate change.
Review furbearer trapping regulations every two years (Legislature) - Trapping regulations are scheduled for review on a three-year time frame. However, hunting and fishing are reviewed every two years.
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