A Great Horned Owl was spotted in early November with a trap hanging from its foot in Star Valley, Wyoming. Kerry Singleton provided Wyoming Untrapped with details, which WU conveyed to Teton Raptor Center and Craighead-Beringia South. Plans were made to capture the owl for rehabilitation if necessary, but thankfully the raptor dropped the trap without any apparent severe injuries. However, the long-term health of the raptor is unknown, as infection remained a possibility.

Trapping raptors is illegal, but when they are caught as ‘unintentional by-catch’, there is no legal liability to the trapper.