According to the Nanaimo News Bulletin, the four hikers were in Linley Valley last weekend when they found – and disabled – at least six traps.
“They looked like pretty scary traps,” Boyce told the News Bulletin. “If a human had ended up getting trapped in them it would have done some serious damage. A friend of mine was using sticks to set them off they literally broke the sticks.”
A Conservation Officer investigated and found that the traps were legally set on private property – but the 15 other people hiking with their pets in the area that day were unaware that the traps existed and that they were on private property.
Trapping is an ineffective means of dealing with wildlife conflict and poses a real threat to public safety. We’ve contacted Nanaimo to offer our services in developing a beaver coexistence plan and are reminding residents in the area to be on the lookout for other traps. Hopefully it will not take the injury or death of a loved family member before humane alternatives are considered in Nanaimo.
