TrailSafe: For Humane Trails. Keeping Nevada trails and recreation safe from steel jaw leghold traps.

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Cat caught in leghold trap in Sparks park - Fernley man cited
Posted by MarkRobison at 3/17/2010 12:43 PM PDT - This got the most media attention and motivated TrailSafe to petition the Washoe County Commission for public safety regulation. Trap advocates still claim this was the only incident. A quick look at our 11 pages of Trap Incidents proves many more than one incident. Click here for complete article.

Nevada animal trapping raises concerns of pet owners as debate renewed By Jeff DeLong jdelong@rgj.com Coverage of Nov. 9, 2011 Trap Regulation Committee hearing. Click here for complete article

TrapFreeNM is a coalition of conservation and animal welfare groups who oppose the cruel, damaging, and dangerous practice of trapping in New Mexico. Under-regulated and outdated, traps put citizens, pets, and non-target species at risk, including the endangered Mexican gray wolf. We seek to ban traps on public lands in New Mexico for the sake of public safety and New Mexico's native wildlife.

New Mexicans value the public's wildlife that roams the state's deserts, grasslands, and forests. In fact, most New Mexican voters, 63%, believe that traps should be restricted or abolished. Public lands and wildlife belong to us all, yet these vicious devices diminish and threaten these values. Join the movement to ban traps on public lands in New Mexico!

Panel targets dropping 35 state boards, commissions
A new legislative subcommittee took aim Thursday at the possible elimination of 35 state boards and commissions, including the state Wildlife and Ethics commissions.
During the first meeting of Legislature's Sunset Subcommittee, members identified the boards and commissions they want to call in and ask to provide justification for their continued existence.
Public will have input to this committee to discuss their impressions of the Wildlife Commission.

High Sierra Veggies & Vegans Living a compassionate, healthy and conscious lifestyle in beautiful Lake Tahoe
Excellent information on vegan and animal advocacy

Plan to ban trapping near residential areas in Washoe is rejected
By Jeff DeLong, December 3, 2010. Complete and accurate report of our hearing before Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners Dec. 3, 2010.

Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners: Report Card. Must read!! Dr. Don Molde, long-time animal activist, proves, using Nevada Dept. of Wildlife's own statistics, that efforts to eliminate coyotes and mountain lions have NO effect on mule deer populations, despite unfounded claims to the contrary.

Predators targeted in Nevada to protect the deer population
May 22, 2010 Reno Gazette Journal

Feds, Nevada officials clash over deer predator control
By Jeff DeLong • jdelong@rgj.com • March 8, 2010

Ban Cruel Traps A basic "How-To" website for trap-free campaigns.

Project Coyote: Fostering Coexistence Vital website!!!! All things coyote coexistence: scientific studies, news of innovative solutions, pictures. All state of the art urban interface progressive programs!!! Nevada has got to catch up!!

Nevada Voters for Animals This website is designed to provide Nevada registered voters with information on what can be done to help the animals of Nevada.

Born Free USA Extensive information on trapping and fur trade including State Trapping Report Card (Nevada gets a D- for lack of regulation). The go-to organization for all things anti-trapping. Reports on incidental trappings nationwide. New video graphically displaying cruelty of trapping. Lobbying and campaign advice.

Predator Defense December 2009 - From our inception two decades ago, our mission has never changed—we exist to protect our nation’s maligned predator species from persecution. Our primary effort has been our fight to dismantle government-sponsored lethal predator control programs.

Every year special interest groups ask for more government funding for lethal predator control that use indiscriminate killing methods. Their war on wildlife knows no bounds. It continues discreetly and routinely bolstered by state wildlife management agencies and the livestock industry, and, unwittingly, by citizens whose tax dollars are misused to kill native wildlife.

Big Wildlife By providing campaign leadership, empowering grassroots, broadening the base of support for wildlife, and educating the public, Big Wildlife has become wildlife’s top public relations firm. We are the big voice for those who can not speak for themselves.

Big Wildlife seeks to protect and defend cougars, coyotes, bears, wolves, bobcats and other keystone predators.

Big Wildlife is part of the Earth Island Institute, a global network of conservation organizations. Go to:www.earthisland.org

Nevada Voters for Animals
Most people don't follow politics closely and are unaware of what their elected officals' positions are as they relate to animal issues.
This website is designed to provide Nevada registered voters with this information and what can be done to help the animals of Nevada.

Reno Gazette-Journal Article on Shortened Bobcat Season, June 27, 2009

Reno Gazette-Journal Editorial "Review Trap Regulations" Feb. 13, 2007.

Reno Gazette-Journal Article: "TRAPPED: Has Northern Nevada's population outgrown state trapping laws?" by Jeff DeLong jdelong@rgj.com
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL February 11, 2007

Reno Gazette-Journal Article: " Hikers, take note: You are sharing forest land with trappers" by KATIE WULFTANGE January 4, 2007.

Nevada Trapping Laws

Footloose Montana
"Every year, thousands of steel-jawed leghold traps, body-crushing Conibear traps and throat-choking snares are legally set on Montana’s public lands—all year long. Hundreds of pets, endangered species and other non-target animals are injured or killed in traps.

"Footloose Montana provides information about the threat of trapping to public safety on public lands, and its impact on our natural resources."

TrapFree Oregon
"Welcome to the TrapFree Oregon website, a source for information about the use of leg- and body- hold traps in our state and how you can help to stop it."

EndTrap: Vermonters for Banning Leghold Traps The group was founded in the late 1980s to protect Vermont pets, and all animals, from cruel and indiscriminate body-gripping (leghold, foothold and conibear) traps.

Humane Society of the United States "Celebrating Animals| Confronting Cruelty" See specifically their Fur Free Campaign Humane Society will supply a wealth of information, including photos of animals in traps. They maintain a database of unintended animal trappings.

Wild Earth Guardians WildEarth Guardians protects and restores wildlife, wild rivers, and wild places in the American West.

Help Animals Nevada Nevada Animals Need Your Help!
Lobbying to protect Nevada's animals. Their issues include trapping as well as puppy mills and other forms of animal cruelty. They provide a "Take Action" box, information on hearings and a link to Voting Record -- See how each Nevada legislator stacks up on animal issues!!

Safe Haven Rescue Zoo Serves the needs of wildlife displaced by habitat loss due to urbanization. Provide wildlife rescue, veterinary care, direct contact for emergency care, referrals to other facilities, and community support and education.

... offer permanent placement for animals confiscated from the illegal pet trade and other critical situations in which they have been abused or neglected. Imlay, Nevada

National Trappers Association These guys are organized!! Pay special attention to the "Alert" link on the home page. This lists legislation they are opposing, and legislation they are supporting.

They have a video: "Destroying the Myth". Here's the blurb:

"For years, animal rights groups succeeded in demonizing trapping and traps as cruel and inhumane.

The National Trappers Association's new video, Destroying the Myth, explodes the heart of the anti-trapping strategy by exposing it as false.

This video speaks eloquently for itself to each and every viewer.

Destroying the Myth can be purchased in a variety of formats through our Online Catalog."

H.R. 1691:A bill that would ban trapping nationwide submitted to the
110th Congress by Congresswoman Nita Lowey [D-NY]

Maryland SENATE BILL 822 Submitted February, 2007. Not yet passed.

Synopsis:
Prohibiting a person from using, setting, placing, or maintaining a steel jaw leghold trap for the purpose of trapping an animal; and providing for the application of the Act.

Killing natural predators does little good- Reno Gazette Journal,February 9, 2007. Well-resarched article blasts myths that "predator control" is a necessity.

Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association - Fur-Free Campaign
File a case report to the Fur-Free Campaign if your pet is caught in a trap.

Letter to Editor of Carson Appeal by 13-year-old upset over trapping. Complete text and another letter...

Nevada Appeal Article March 19, 2007 Report on protest action brought about by 13-year-old's letter cited above. TrailSafe mentioned in the article.

People, Pets, and Traps: A Deadly Mix on Public Lands By K. Stachowski, 3-19-07 In New West Missoula: The Voice of the Rocky Mountains. Excellent, heartfelt article on pets caught in traps in Montana, and the dismal trapping laws in that state.
PDF Version

The Fund for Animals. This organization opposes trapping and hunting in wildlife refuges. We thought "refuge" means an animal is protected. In fact, more than 300 of America's 500 National Wildlife Refuges allow hunting and trapping!

Share your opinion on any bill before Nevada State Legislature.
Scroll down right hand column to "Share Your Opinion" Opinion Poll.

Hikers, trappers urged to work on trail compromise. By Jeff DeLong
May 12, 2007. Results of our initial petition to the Wildlife Commission.

Animal Welfare Institute Issues: End the use of steel-jawed leghold traps on animals in the United States.
... Victims suffer excruciating pain and fear as they tear ligaments and break teeth in their struggle to free themselves from the bone crushing trap. AWI is campaigning vigorously against the steel trap in this country and abroad.

“Everything of cruelty to animals is a violation of moral duty.”
– Thomas Paine