“Jester”, killed in an illegally set #330 Conibear, Swift Creek, Afton, WY, February 9, 2024
ALERT!
BE AWARE THAT TRAPS ARE OUT THERE ON WYOMING LANDSCAPES. WHEREVER YOU SEE WILDLIFE, THERE COULD BE TRAPS OR LETHAL SNARES AND CONIBEARS.
DEADLY, BRUTAL, AND ILLEGAL TRAPPING INCIDENT.
On Thursday, 2/9/24, “Jester”, a beloved English Bull Terrier was caught in a deadly #330 Conibear body-crushing trap. Jester’s owner, Becky Barber, struggled to release the Conibear but could not do so. Jester died in front of her. Our hearts go out to Becky and her family. It’s devastating to lose a beloved best friend, and to watch such a tragic, brutal incident is beyond imaginable!
The incident was located on Swift Creek in Afton, WY. Becky and her dogs were walking when the dogs went over a snow bank right off the road. She waited for Jester to return. She found him; his gums were still pink, but she couldn’t release the illegal trap. She sat and watched his gums turn white. Jester did not survive.
The trapper was issued a citation by WGFD, with a possible investigation. We will share more information when it is available to the public.
This tragic incident should never have happened. WU and the public have requested trap setbacks off public trails and roads, mandatory trapper education, trap-free areas, and 24-hour trap checks. Still, state and federal wildlife management have resisted, supporting less than 1/2 of 1 percent of the people in Wyoming who decide to trap anywhere it is also legal to walk a dog. Wildlife have no place to escape these steel devices littered across our landscapes.
Trappers are not required to attend a mandatory education course. For furbearers (beavers, bobcats, badgers, mink, muskrats, martins, and weasels), anyone can purchase one license and kill in unlimited numbers during winter. A trapper does not need a license for predatory animals (foxes, coyotes, and wolves in areas of the state, and more) and can trap, snare, shoot, or kill in almost any manner on any day of the year. Reporting of most trapped target or non-target animals is voluntary. Thousands of animals are killed that we will never know about.
No one is held accountable if your pet gets caught in a legal trap. Trappers can legally kill your pet!
Wyoming is rated as one of the worst in the country for its lack of trapping regulations. Many states are stepping up to progressive modern-day humane wildlife management, using alternative methods to prevent and reduce conflict.
Until we can get these deadly steel devices off our trails and create trap-free zones throughout the state, please know what to do before heading out into the field.
Director: Brian Nesvik
Brian.Nesvik@wyo.gov
307-631-1845
Wyoming Game and Fish Chief Warden
Rick King
Richard.King@wyo.gov
307-777-4581
Wyoming Game & Fish Department Jackson Regional Office
Supervisor: Brad Hovinga
307-733-2321
Brad.Hovinga@wyo.gov
Governor Mark Gordon
governor@wyo.gov
307-777-7434
Your Legislators
Wyoleg.gov/legislators
Travel, Recreation, Wildlife &Cultural Resources Committee (TRW)
Wyoleg.gov/Committees/2024/J06
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission
President: Ralph.Brokaw@wyo.gov
Vice President: Richard.Ladwig@wyo.gov
Mark.Jolovich@wyo.gov
Kenneth.Roberts@wyo.gov
Ashlee.Lundvall@wyo.gov
John.Masterson@wyoboards.gov
Rusty.Bell@wyoboards.gov
Wyoming Department of Agriculture
Director: Doug Miyamoto
doug.miyamoto@wyo.gov
307-777-6569
Wyoming Director of Wildlife Services
Jared Zierenberg
jared.r.zierenberg@aphis.usda.gov
307-261-5336
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Becky Barber is sharing her story, and wants wildlife management decision-makers to take action.
To Whom It May Concern;
I have previously reached out to most of you concerning the tragic, horrific, uncalled for death of my beautiful companion, Jester. An incident that will haunt me for life.
He was killed on February 8, 2024 in Swift Creek Canyon just feet off of the main road, over the snowbank. He was killed in a Conibear 330. As we neared the end of our walk ready to turn around and head back to the car Jester and Kaia went over the snowbank. They did this often. Chasing a squirrel or smelling a carcass. I called for them. Kaia came running. I figured I’ll finish the few steps left then grab Jester, positive he was on something dead like he was up Dry Creek a few days before. When he wouldn’t come I followed Kaia up over the snowbank and saw his body laying in the snow. I hollered, praying it was a leg trap. As this 5’3″, 120 pound dog mom struggled to free him, I literally watched the blood drain from his gums and lips. He did not die instantly. He suffocated. Thank God I had cell service, not that it saved Jester, and was able to call my husband and 911 to get a hold of James Hobbs, our local game warden. I undid the wire holding the trap in place. Struggling I packed my baby boy, trap still around neck up over the snowbank and laid him on the road. I then attached his leash and started dragging him down the road to meet up with my husband. It took both of us all we had to release that god forsaken trap and free my Jester’s once vibrant, full of life, now lifeless body. These are images that will haunt me for the rest of my life.
I have missed 2 days of work. My husband missed one day as to not leave me alone, for you see Jester was not just a dog. We did everything together. He traveled all over Wyoming with me supporting my grandson in the High School Rodeo program as a bull rider. In seven years we were not apart very often. He was my co-pilot. My soul mate. My puppy, Kaia, is at a total loss. She hardly leaves my side. We are having to go get family members dogs to play with her. She cries. She is on sedatives. Neither of us have hardly slept since the senseless loss of our Jester. He was a young 8 years old. I am mentally and emotionally struggling with what I had to see and go through and not being able to save Jester. I cried out his name. I kept telling him I was trying. That I was sorry. That I hadn’t abandond him. My dreams are haunted. I’ve hardly eaten in days. He was a young 8 years old.
I can tell you right now Jester’s death will not be in vain. I, nor my support group, is going anywhere until there is change.
My requests are minimal but will save countless pet lives. When I see all the senseless pet lives lost on Wyoming Untrapped, and this isn’t even a complete list, I am utterly sickened. We have rights too. Are our fur babies lives worth nothing? Are our broken hearts just a mere price to pay so some careless trapper can have a fur? I am gutted. I am angry. Hate boils in me. However, I am trying to use Jester’s death for a better good.
I beg you to change regulations that traps cannot be set in such public areas. These trappers can use snow shoes, snowmobiles, skis or other means to have to setback traps at least 200 yards from public roads, paths, public recreation areas or any other places occupied by the public and pets. Also, at the beginning of every canyon entrance there should be signage that there are traps in place. I also feel that the general areas with traps should be flagged, even if setbacks are in place, should anyone go off trail to snowshoe etc. alone or with a pet. The trap that killed my Jester could have easily gotten a child that might have popped up over that snow bank following the careless steps of a careless trapper. I personally think this trapper should lose his rights for several years. Why is it illegal to trap the wrong wildlife but not a loving pet?
Is this what it will take for you to become responsible, to care, to give a damn about something other than money that these trapping licenses bring in? It is illegal to trap something other than the permitted animal, unless it’s a pet. A person can’t shoot across a road to kill something but a trap can be set right by a road, or in a road or trail for that matter. I know someone who found a set trap in the middle of a trail.
I never even knew there were traps in our canyons until a few years ago when a family was walking their dog in Dry Creek and came around a corner to see their family pet hanging in a snare. Several pet owners using these same canyons had no idea either until I posted about my loving Jester. I have been very careful since then to keep my pets out of traps. However, I never dreamed there would be a scented trap right off of a main road. NO signs. NO warning.
How is it this is even a possibility? After posting on Facebook I was amazed to find how many people had no idea there were traps. Many now will not be walking their dogs up these PUBLIC canyons. I walked my Jester almost daily for the last 7 years in rain, snow, and in freezing temperatures. He was my driving force to stay active. As an English Bull Terrier his energy was extremely high. His love and loyalty knew no bounds. Seven months ago I got Jester an English Bull Terrier puppy to play with and for company. Since this awful tragedy my sweet baby Kaia has had to be on sedatives. I myself have had little sleep.
I will continue to email, attend meetings and whatever else I must do for such simple change. You will never forget Jester’s name. This is Jester’s legacy. His death will not be in vain.
Sincerely,
Becky Barber
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Watch our full-length webinar workshop:
bit.ly/WyomingUntrapped-webinar-workshop
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Download our Pet Trap Safety Brochure to your smartphone for access in the field:
wyominguntrapped.org/trapping-brochures/
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Watch our 11-minute video: “How to Release Your Pet From a Trap”
wyominguntrapped.org/portfolio-item/how-to-release-your-pet-from-a-trap/
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Be Snare Aware! Learn all about these lethal snares:
https://wyominguntrapped.org/snare-aware/
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Carry tools with you if needed to help release your pet. We have assembled UNtrapped Packs to make it easier for you. At a minimum, carry an aircraft cable cutter if your pet is caught in a snare. These tools could save your pet’s life. You can find our UNtrap Pack and cable/snare cutters on our website.
wyominguntrapped.org/programs/untrap-packs/
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Have you experienced a negative trapping incident involving you, your pet, your family, or another living thing?
Anne McKinsey
Dear Becky,
I lost my dog in the same way you lost your Jester. I live in Vermont and we are up against the same sort of trapping reforms that you in Wyoming are working with.
My Clara (Shetland Sheepdog) was killed on Dec 20, 2022 in a Conibear trap half a mile from my home on a wooded trail that is used by people who walk their dogs, hunters, etc. The trap was about 70′ off the trail and Clara smelled the bait and off she went — I was unable to recall her. I heard her yip and found her limp in the trap. She died in my arms while I carried her out. It’s now a year later and going through the one-year anniversary was a milestone that helped the trauma to lessen. I visit the trapping spot regularly.
Vermont has just passed some new legislation with the guise of addressing public safety. Traps must be placed 50 feet from *some* trails, Conibear traps must be placed inside of a cubby if they are baited (supposedly to help with selectivity of animal being targeted) — I can’t imagine how this would help keep dogs from reaching into the cubby for the bait. But, our Fish & Wildlife Dept mostly turns a blind ear to animal rights advocates.
My heart goes out to you and your family, Becky. This was so recent and I’m sure you’re in big pain now. Take care. –Anne McKinsey, Corinth, VT
https://www.wcax.com/2022/12/26/vermont-woman-warning-others-after-her-dog-was-killed-trap/