More Traps and Foxes
Wolf
Published on November 10, 1998
<SNML_HEADLINES
Trap ban hinders work to save birds
</SNML_HEADLINES
* Federal biologists say Prop. 4 hamstrings their efforts to keep
foxes from eating endangered species
By Marilee Enge
SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS
Caught off guard by a statewide ban on leghold traps that became law
last
week, federal biologists with the San Francisco Bay National Wildlife
Refuge
said they do not know how they will control the voracious red foxes that
prey on endangered birds now that their key tool is outlawed.
By 58 percent to 42 percent, California voters approved Proposition 4, a
sweeping prohibition on the most commonly used animal traps, including
the
leghold traps used to capture foxes in the refuge.
"We have lost our most versatile tools," said Gary Simmons of the
federal
Wildlife Services agency, which conducts trapping in national parks and
refuges and on state and private land.
Government wildlife managers and the animal rights activists who
sponsored
Prop. 4 disagree on how the new law should be interpreted by agencies
working to save endangered species. But for now, the biologists who work
in
the Bay refuge and other sensitive wildlife areas in California said
they
will not use leghold traps.
The ban comes just as scientists announced the results of a five-year
program that has restored the California clapper rail in the South Bay.
The
shore-nesting water birds, found only in San Francisco Bay, were nearly
eliminated after red foxes migrated into the refuge in the late 1980s.
But
an aggressive program to trap the foxes brought the birds back from the
brink of extinction, researchers from UC-Santa Cruz said recently.
In the Dumbarton Marsh on the eastern shore, the birds' numbers had
plummeted from 200 to about eight. The clapper rail colony there now
numbers
about 100.
Refuge manager Margaret Kolar said Monday she had no idea what
biologists
will do now. They are not barred from shooting the foxes or using other
devices, such as box traps, but they maintain that leghold traps are the
most effective method of catching the animals, which are then
euthanized.
"I guess we'll have to hold off," Kolar said. "It gives us no time to
plan
for alternatives."
Meanwhile, biologists at Wildlife Services, a division of the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, have spread out across the state to collect
hundreds of leghold traps banned by Prop. 4. In addition to conducting
trapping programs for other government agencies, Wildlife Services helps
ranchers, farmers and suburban residents control coyotes and other
animals
that prey on livestock and pets.
In another action prompted by Tuesday's election, California Department
of
Fish and Game officials have revoked trapping permits for about 30
scientific projects. Researchers routinely use leghold traps to capture
animals before they are outfitted with radio collars and tracked. One
such
project involving coyote behavior is under way at UC-Berkeley.
"It's going to dramatically change how research activities are
undertaken,"
said Carl Wilcox, a Fish and Game regional supervisor.
Legal questions regarding Prop. 4 and how it will ultimately affect
endangered species in California remain, and observers say the issue
will
probably go to court. But Prop. 4 supporters insist the law is not
intended
to hamstring biologists trying to restore threatened populations.
"The target of the measure was the recreational and commercial trapping
of
fur-bearing mammals," said Wayne Pacelle, senior vice president of the
National Humane Society. "We also wanted to stop Wildlife Services from
engaging in indiscriminate predator control with leghold traps and two
poisons."
Animal rights activists do not plan to sue agencies that use leghold
traps
to save creatures protected under the Endangered Species Act, Pacelle
said.
"If it is the only option, it is appropriate for the protection of
endangered species. We want it to be a last resort rather than a first
response."
Kolar, at the Bay refuge, said she has asked government lawyers for an
opinion on whether trapping can continue there. A spokeswoman for the
Department of Interior in Washington, D.C., said federal solicitors "are
looking at the options."
A Washington-based lawyer who often represents environmental and animal
rights groups in endangered species lawsuits said the federal law
protecting
creatures in danger of extinction overrides any state statutes banning
traps.
"It doesn't matter if you're talking about endangered species or federal
land management or disposal of nuclear waste," said Eric Glitzenstein.
"The
federal law is the one that's enforceable."
But opponents of Prop. 4 said the government has not chosen to challenge
similar ballot initiatives in other states. When a trapping ban passed
in
Massachusetts several years ago, federal biologists resorted to shooting
coyotes with "minimal success," said John McCaull, legislative director
of
the National Audubon Society in California.
Some people fear the worst.
"If all trapping stops immediately, that means we start losing
endangered
species immediately," said Arthur Feinstein, president of the Golden
Gate
Audubon Society. "When you only have 700 birds in the world, they get
gobbled up pretty fast."
Edition: SRVT, Section: A, Page: 8
--
Fenris Wolf
http://members.xoom.com/Astraea/CAPACS.htm
http://members.xoom.com/Astraea/RSPCAhelp.htm
http://www.marketersworld.com/members/Fenris/
Gary
What a novel idea.
>"The target of the measure was the recreational and commercial trapping
>of
>fur-bearing mammals," said Wayne Pacelle
I guess this means that trapping just to kill them is ok! What a waste.
>"If all trapping stops immediately, that means we start losing
>endangered
>species immediately," said Arthur Feinstein, president of the Golden
>Gate
>Audubon Society. "When you only have 700 birds in the world, they get
>gobbled up pretty fast."
Burp.
Jon Kjarsgaard
<snip>
>>"The target of the measure was the recreational and commercial trapping
>>of
>
>I guess this means that trapping just to kill them is ok! What a waste.
G--ggg- Gary, you just talked like an animal advocate!!!
You spoke out against unnecessary death!!!!!
Is something wrong, or is something right???
>>"If all trapping stops immediately, that means we start losing
>>endangered
>>species immediately," said Arthur Feinstein, president of the Golden
>>Gate
>>Audubon Society. "When you only have 700 birds in the world, they get
>>gobbled up pretty fast."
>
>Burp.
I didn't know fur farmers had a sense of humor!
Gary
>>I guess this means that trapping just to kill them is ok! What a waste.
>
>
>G--ggg- Gary, you just talked like an animal advocate!!!
>You spoke out against unnecessary death!!!!!
No the waste of a renewable resource. the waste of cash as people will have
to be paid to trap them now.
MINKLIB
say, and we use majority rule, they whine and whine.
JP
Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade
PO Box 822411
Dallas, TX 75382
www.banfur.com
Gary Renaud
I'd better not see any complaints out of you if some group that you oppose passes a ballot measure. School prayer is AWFULLY popular with the majority. Or, if that's OK with you, maybe anti-immigration measures? A tax on your favorite activity? A new airport in your backyard? "The will of the people."
If you give the government power to force your moral views on others, you give it the power to force their view on you. If you run with the hounds now, don't expect sympathy when you are the fox.
(Hey! I DID manage to get foxes into the post!)
--
Gary Renaud
"Smart" cards? No, they have a certain animal cunning at best.
Direct Line: 949-622-3602
Front Desk: 949-851-1085
FAX: 949-851-8588
Jonis
>It seems that trappers really hate democracy. Every time the public has their
>say, and we use majority rule, they whine and whine.
Again, JP, I don't think you should be even mentioning democracy.
You're supporting organizations that use _terrorism_, _violence_ and
_death threaths_ to help their cause. How's that for democracy...
>JP
Jonis
--- Jonis ----
--- http://home.sol.no/~sbragsta/ ----
--- Member of The Huntingtrail ----
MINKLIB
then I suggest you spend a few days in Northern Ireland or the Middle East.