Traps or poison: Vote no on I-177

Editor,

On the 2016 ballot, Initiative 177 appears for a yes or no vote. The people who voted absentee have already decided and chose either yes or no. There are still those who will be voting on Nov. 8. Initiative 177 will be affecting every person and animal if passed.

This initiative will ban trapping on public land using foothold traps and snares. This has proven to be an effective wildlife management tool used by trappers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Fish, Wildlife and Parks. If these tools cannot be used to manage predators and other problem furbearers and nongame animals, wildlife managers, after a 30 day period of trying to use nonlethal methods will be forced to use alternative lethal methods. One of those lethal methods that is legal to use in Montana is poison.

Proponents of I-177 continually exemplify the indiscriminate targeting of wildlife that trapping represents. Do you think poison is less indiscriminate? Do you think pets will not consume poisoned bait left for predators? Do you think nontarget wildlife like eagles, birds or other scavengers will not eat on a poisoned carcass and consequently die a slow death? Do you think our children and the general public will be safer on public lands where poisons are being used to control predators and problem wildlife? These are common-sense questions that we all need to consider when we vote for or against I-177.

I cannot imagine what our public lands will look like if poisons are one of the lethal methods used to control predators and other problem wildlife. I can see carcasses of target and non-target animals lying on the ground until they are all collected. It would not be a very inviting sight. At least when traps and snare are used by responsible trappers and wildlife managers, nontarget wildlife are released and targeted wildlife is dispatched in a safe and humane manner.

Finally I ask the question: Do you, your children and pets want to be on public lands where poisons can be used year round to control problem wildlife?

This is just another reason that a no Vote on I-177 is important.

Vote no on I-177

Fran Buell

Gildford