Letter to the Editor - Buell misconstrues trapping Initiative-177

Editor,

Trapper Fran Buell’s letter wildly misconstrues Montana Trap-Free Public Lands I-177. 

If a badger digs holes in agricultural fields on public lands, damaging a crop and endangering the safety of the tractor driver, and someone actually wants to put a trap in their field, they can call Fish, Wildlife and Parks for a permit to trap that badger under I-177. I-177 allows trapping to protect property as well for safety. There is no requirement for FWP to come to the site, or to spend 30 days trying all nonlethal methods of removal. That is misinformation.   

I-177 restricts commercial and recreational trapping to private land, two-thirds of Montana. I-177 provides exceptions that allow trapping for health and safety, for livestock and property protection if nonlethal methods fail and for scientific and wildlife management activities.

In the case of livestock protection, public lands users can email a photo showing one or more non-lethal methods tried to deter a predator, and a photo of evidence of a predator to Fish, Wildlife and Parks. FWP then issues a permit to trap the offending animal(s). It’s reasonable to have accountability on public lands that belong to us all.

FWP is not required to visit the site in person or install nonlethal methods like using flags on wire, or fladry (100 percent successful in recent applications), range riding, carcass removal, guard dogs, as Buell falsely claims. No one is required to move livestock if a coyote den is in the area. I-177 suggests not placing calves near a coyote den as one way to avoid predator conflict.

I-177 will make public access safe, and will protect livestock, wildlife and protected species from indiscriminate traps and snares.

 “The leg-hold trap … is probably the most cruel device ever invented by man and is a direct cause of inexcusable destruction and waste of our wildlife,” wrote Dick Randall, a former federal trapper, in a statement to Congress in 1975. “Even though I was an experienced, professional trapper, my trap victims often included non-target species such as bald and golden eagles, a variety of hawks and other birds, rabbits, sage grouse, pet dogs, deer and antelope, badger, porcupine, sheep and calves.”

I-177 is a common-sense citizens initiative that considers the needs of all public land users. Vote for I-177 in November. To read the initiative visit http://www.yeson177.com

Connie Poten

Missoula