FW: Updates from Footloose Montana
Jim Robertson
Friends,
There have been quite a few happenings in the realm of trapping, especially of late.
- Wolf trapping will begin legally in Montana on Dec 15. As you know these traps bring a whole new and more deadly arsenal of traps into play. FWP is required to protect threatened species under the ESA. In response to the significant risk of incidental trapping of Lynx they are proposing wolf trappers use an 8 lb pan tension in regions 1 and 2 only. Pan tension is the amount of pressure it takes for a trap to snap, not the weight of the animal. Not only is it difficult to adjust and determine to 8 lbs but weather and the types of trap sets will effect and change the tension. There is also no way to monitor or enforce this. http://fwp.mt.gov/fwpDoc.html?id=57187
The comment period is ending Nov 5 at 5pm. We encourage you to comment. http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/publicComments/proposedWolfTrapPanTension.htmlThis is a band-aid response to a large gaping and festering wound that is only to get uglier as the season ensues.
- 4 States will be voting on whether Fishing, Hunting and Trapping should be a right under their state's constitution! Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kentucky. The last 3 refer to it as "Fishing, Hunting and Harvesting". Please share to VOTE NO on these ballots! Hunting and Fishing is a right under Montana's state constitution, not trapping!
- A Wildlife Services Employee out of Wyoming posted very disturbing photos that we recently then posted on our Facebook page involving the use of his dogs to tear apart trapped coyotes! Tragically, trapped animals can be killed by any means and it appears equally so by those trappers that are paid for with tax payers money to do likewise! http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/02/4956169/us-wildlife-workers-online-photos.html and from a psychological perspective http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/animal-emotions/201211/wildlife-services-trapper-allows-animal-torture
Letters are being drafted demanding an investigation! Please sign! https://secure3.convio.net/wg/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=547
- Wolverine lawsuit has been filed! http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/lower_48s_last_wolverine_trapping_season_heads_to_court/30404#.UJUOkyY8axw.facebook
A poll is online regarding the trapping of wolverines. See left side of page http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/#poll
- Change of Footloose Montana Leadership; we are currently in the process of transitioning the Executive Director position from Anja Heister, to our new E.D., Filip Panusz. Anja is going to focus on the completion of her Ph.D. and will continue to stay involved. Filip has been a long-time board member and he is passionate about our mission to end trapping on public lands. He can be reached at (406) 274-7878 and via in...@footloosemontana.org. We’ll send out a farewell letter from Anja, and a letter of introduction for Filip shortly.
For up-to-date information, please "like" and follow us on our Footloose Montana Facebook page. We have 3167 fans now!
As always, please let us know what you are willing to do to help achieve trap free public lands!
Thanks!
Your friends at Footloose Montana