A reward regarding a young skunk has been boosted from $1000 to $1050. Earlier this month, a skunk was humanely euthanized after being grievously wounded by an illegal leg-hold trap, prompting a reward and reminders from The Fur-Bearers.
The skunk was found located and captured by Critter Care Wildlife Society on Sunday, August 2, in the residential area of Williams and Number 4 Roads. Due to the extent of the 3.5-month-old skunk’s injuries, she was humanely euthanized.
“These traps do one thing, and one thing only: cause suffering,” says Lesley Fox, Executive Director of B.C.-based non-profit The Fur-Bearers. “Whether it’s a clearly illegal trap with teeth like the one in this incident or a so-called ‘certified humane’ trap, we regularly see the devastation they cause any animal who encounters them.”
A $1,050 reward for information leading to the identification and conviction of the person(s) responsible is being offered by The Fur-Bearers. But the organization believes the community must rally around this cause if the suffering is to stop.
“Trapping to kill or trapping to relocate will not resolve human conflict with wildlife, and could potentially increase it,” says Fox. “Nature abhors a vacuum, and removal of one animal simply makes room for another. The cause of the conflict is frequently human-sourced, such as leaving out attractants or directly feeding animals – even if it’s not in your backyard, it just takes one person in a neighbourhood to change the way wildlife behaves.”
The Fur-Bearers are asking all residents to visit StashYourTrash.ca to learn how attractants invite all species into backyards and properties – and to share successful solutions for coexistence in community groups.
Anyone with information regarding this trapping incident is asked to contact the Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or online at https://forms.gov.bc.ca/environment/rapp/.
Top photo of skunk not of the skunk trapped; inset photo of trap provided by Critter Care Wildlife Society
