Take Action

Original words directly from your own heart and mind are more likely to be given consideration than words and phrases that sound scripted.  See the take-action box above to email your comments to Jason Hunter, Lander Region wildlife supervisor and lead of the internal working group: jason.hunter@wyo.gov. If you prefer a personal connection with your Commissioner, feel free to call or email directly.  Thank you!

WHY TRAPPING REFORM IS URGENT IN 2020

• The incidental trapping of pets resulting in injuries and death continues to increase on our public lands.
  In the wake of these tragedies, current WGFD regulations leave recreationists believing that there is no or little accountability in the sport of trapping and that there is “no safe place for recreationists in Wyoming.” This dynamic is bad for the sport of trapping and bad for Wyoming.
• There is an urgent need for action. After reviewing trapping reform recommendations by the internal WGFD committee, it’s clear that while some voices have been heard, this does not recognize the urgent need for action.  We appreciate that mandatory trapping education may move forward.  However, traps and snares will continue to remain legal directly on public trails, ensuring that additional injuries or death to pets will continue this year. Wild sentient animals will continue to suffer long brutal deaths with lengthy trap-check times.  Non-target animal reporting will remain voluntary which does not allow for data-based management of furbearer animals.
• Our trapping reform list is long, but we, and other state advocates, will continue to promote as top priorities: Trap free areas on highly recreated public trails, trap and snare setbacks from all public trails, and mandatory reporting of all domestic and wild non-target animals.  24-hour trap checks for all traps and snares are urgent.
• Politics have grown tiresome for us all.  It’s time for compassion instead.  We remain hopeful that the honorable WGFC and TRW Interim Committee members will use their authority appropriately to address our urgent requests for action.
• Anyone who believes trapping should continue virtually unregulated are challenged to review our non-target incident database on our website, showing the needless death of hundreds of Wyoming wildlife.
• Over the last several years, WU has recorded 75+ reported dog trapping incidents in Wyoming.
  Ten of these died.  Seven of the 75+ incidents were in Teton County.  There could be many more out there, but no official record exists.  Just recently, two trapping incidents took place in a week. Just a couple days before the Christmas 2019 holiday, a dangerous trapline was set in the Cache Creek area adjacent to town. In this case, the trapper was cited for two violations and appeared in the Teton County court. A few days later, on January 4, 2020, a beloved pet, “Mac,” was caught in a lethal power snare and died within two minutes in the arms of Karen Zoller on public land in Fremont County. When WU asked for action on Mac’s case, some of the WGFD staff had never heard of these new snares, increasing the danger on our public lands. Emotions are high, and Wyoming residents are now reaching out to you and their electeds.
• To avoid future incidents, we propose the establishment of criteria to guide trapping closures on “highly used public recreation areas” statewide,
  Beginning with areas that have documented conflict histories, such as Teton County, Fremont County, Park County, and the towns Laramie, Pinedale and Rock Springs. Examples of “a highly used public area” in Teton County are Cache Creek, Game Creek, Old Pass Road, Snow King Trail Network, Teton Canyon and Darby Canyon. Today, the overall use of the Cache Creek trail system continues to rise and is estimated as high as 1526 daily, with an annual average of 400 people per day per a trail counter data summary 2019.  GIS maps of these areas shows the trail count numbers, and the need for trapping closures. Overall Map.
• Additional areas statewide seeking closures are:
  Fremont County: Sinks Canyon trail system including the Pete’s Lake Trail, Brewers Trail, Stock Bypass Trail, and the Middle Fork Trail to Popo Agie Falls, Bus Loop Trail System, Johnny Behind the Rocks Trail System, Wild Iris Climbing Area, Beaver Creek Nordic Ski Area and Hiking Trails, Red Canyon, including USFS, BLM and WG&F Wildlife Management Area, Ocean Lake Wildlife Habitat Management Area, and Mesa Wildlife Habitat Management Area.
  Albany County: Happy Jack Recreational Area and Vedauwoo Recreational Area near Laramie, WY.
  Park County:  Newton Lake area, Twisted Sister, the McCullough Peaks Rd, the Shoshone river trail is from the Paul Stock area all through the river’s edge until it ends.
  Sublette County:  Soda, Fremont and Halfmoon Lakes, which include campgrounds. State Land near the New Fork River
• As you consider the committee’s report, please be aware that the urgency Wyoming Untrapped brought to your attention last winter has not abated. Trail use continues to increase, on some trails as high as 277% over the numbers in our January 28, 2020 petition. With 2,498 Wyoming trapping licenses sold and 7,404 harvests in 2019, recreational trail users are far more common than trappers. We implore you, do not ignore non-consumptive users. The list of trapping reform options outlined in our petition continues to deserve your attention and your vote.
• The pure cruelty of trapping causing injuries, exposure, dehydration and mental stress, and often immense suffering.
  All trap-check time requirements should be reduced to 24 hour trap checks, or should traps be eliminated from our landscapes. Jeremy Bentham famously asked, “The question is not, ‘Can they reason?’ Nor, ‘Can they talk?’ But, “can they suffer?'”
• WU is asking for the ban of all trigger-loaded snares  like the one that recently killed “Mac” in Fremont County. Our request compares any mechanical advantage assisted snare to the dangerous large size body grip traps, 330 conibears. The same non-selectivity and the same lethality. Dogs, cats, nontarget raptors and game animals and livestock will be more seriously injured or killed by these snares.  The trappers can argue that the time until death of their target adult prime coyotes or bobcats will be reduced – – – but their ability to release young, or non target animals ( including domestic dogs) will be gone.  And your ability to release you own dog while hiking or hunting before it suffocates will be reduced. These mechanically advantaged snares should be prohibited.
• On behalf of Wyoming Untrapped, Mac, and the citizens of Wyoming,
  please consider restricting the use of all power snares, such as the Senneker spring snare or quick-kill snares, as soon as possible.
• The Legislators, WGF Commission and WGF Department are our wildlife management leaders.
  The failure to respond to the increase of land-use conflicts across Wyoming perpetuates land use conflict. At the Lander WGFD workshop participants were reminded to be responsible land users and that their pets’ welfare is the sole responsibility of their owners. Blaming grieving residents for failure to see and avoid hidden lethal traps on public lands is ridiculous. We know Wyoming can do better and ask you to please step up and lead.
• Unacceptable deaths and severe injuries to non-target species; even animals released alive may later die from their injuries.
  We don’t know how many non-target animals are trapped/snared, injured or killed in traps each year.  All of the ~thousands of non-target animals should be required reporting by trappers.
• Personal experience with a companion animal caught in a trap.
  Warning signs should be required in areas where there are traps and snares to increase public safety.  Traps are legal on all public trails where dogs can be walked.  There should be 300 ft setbacks off trails, or trap-free areas where anyone can have a reasonable expectation of safety on our public lands.  Trappers should be accountable for injuries or death to your pet.
• Please consider the following trapping reform:
  Trap-free areas for heavily used public recreation areas statewide, required signage where traps and snares are present, reporting of all species trapped, a ban of the new deadly trigger-loaded power snare and Senneker snare, reporting of all non-target species trapped and/or killed, including pets, trap setbacks of 500 feet off of busy public trails statewide, required purchase of Conservation Stamp for all trappers, use of live traps whenever possible, mandatory trapper education, and support of 24-hour trap checks statewide.
• Our public lands should remain safe havens for all.
  All people, pets and wildlife should have a reasonable expectation for safety on our public lands, which means trap-free areas for all.

• There are emerging trends in national wildlife management.
  We value and protect wildlife as vital contributors to the health of our public landscapes, and for the intrinsic character and worth of all furbearing animals.  We value the significant impact of wildlife watching on tourism – Wyoming’s 2nd largest industry.  Wyoming’s wildlife management is not keeping pace with our modern society’s views.
• Wildlife management should better represent the values of all citizens.
  Our wildlife is a public treasure owned equally by all citizens and taxpayers. Therefore, it is not just that a few people are allowed to indiscriminately trap and kill this wildlife. Trapping and snaring greatly reduces the number of animals and thus the number of wildlife sightings for the public – depriving them of much pleasure.
• There is an absence of sportsmanship, fair chase, and compassion in trapping.
  Every animal in Wyoming, including endangered species, is a possible victim of traps and snares. It is not fair chase to not know your target, or to sit at home on a couch and wait for a catch.
• The overall management of trapping is rarely cost-effective.
  A furbearer trapping license costs $45 for all you can catch.  How can that be cost-effective for our state?  Perhaps one license should be required for each furbearer species and a limited quota.
• Trapping, which is not based on a science foundation, does little or nothing for effectively managing any species population.
  We don’t have a population count on our state furbearers, but we allow unlimited quotas.  We should place quotas on all furbearer trapping. Where is the science?
• Trapping lost its charm long ago as a Wyoming tradition, let alone an American one.
  A growing debate about the legitimacy of trapping shows that a shift is coming.  Trapping for fun, trophies, fur and feeding one’s ego is no longer acceptable by a growing modern population.
• Trapping rarely serves any citizen other than the one who owns the trap.
  It is time to create a statewide Trapping Advisory Committee to lend a citizen’s perspective to WGFD in reviewing the science and management of trapping, and predicting and anticipating public sentiment.