Raccoon with leg-hold trap attached to his paw.
Photo credit. Critter Care Wildlife
On Sunday, August 21, 2011 a male raccoon with a leg-hold trap attached to his front left paw, was found in a shed of the 9700 block of 155 Street in Surrey, BC.
The animal was found by concerned local citizens and was picked up by the Surrey SPCA, with assistance from the Critter Care Wildlife Society.
Reports indicate that the trap was clamped around the paw, almost cutting the paw in half; the paw was just crushed and mangled. Infection was present all the way up to the elbow.
Raccoon’s infected paw/leg.
Photo: Critter Care Wildlife
It is unknown at this time where the raccoon was trapped and how long he was suffering.
Sadly, due to the extent of his injuries, the raccoon was euthanized.
Leg-Hold Traps & The Law:
While leg-hold traps are legal in all provinces across Canada, only specific models can be used (depending on a variety of factors, ie. why kind of animal is being targeted, where the trap is being set etc). In all circumstances however, leg-hold traps with ‘teeth’ are prohibited.
The raccoon in Surrey was found in an ILLEGAL leg-hold trap.
Legal or not, all leg-hold, Conibear and snare traps are cruel. That’s why the Fur-Bearer’s Association is urging the City of Surrey to follow in the footsteps on Gibsons, BC and ban all body-gripping traps!
In addition to asking Surrey to ban traps, The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals is offering a $2500 REWARD for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for setting this leg-hold trap. If you have any information, please call Adrian at 604-435-1850.
