This unfortunate incident was completely preventable – especially when there are several non-lethal alternatives for addressing beaver damming and chewing.
Quick facts:
Like most provinces, in B.C. a trap can be set just 200 metres from a home or school, no warning signs are required, no I.D. tags on the trap are required, and it is completely legal to use a leg-hold, Conibear or snare trap – even in densely populated areas!
In addition to the 700,000 animals that are trapped and killed each year in Canada, an untold number of animals including pets, birds and even endangered species are killed in wildlife traps. Mandatory reporting for “non-target” catches is not required.
While we are aware that the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources is “actively reviewing” current trapping regulations, tragedies will continue to occur unless swift action is taken.
We would like to see a ban on the use of all body-gripping traps, including the Conibear, snare and leg-hold, or at the very least, a ban on the use of body-gripping traps in/near urban areas.
What you can do:
Please contact Minister Steve Thomson using the form below and ask him to take immediate action to ban the use of all body-gripping traps, or at the very least ban the use of body-gripping traps near urban areas.
{chronoforms}BCminister{/chronoforms}
Photo: Conibear trap.
