Non-Target Animals Trapped and Killed

by Trish Swain | Apr 30, 2022 | Nevada Wildlife Watcher

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) requests trappers fill out and return a questionnaire providing data on animals and birds trapped whether the individual was targeted by the trapper or not. The wording indicates that compliance is optional: “NDOW appreciates your participation. . . ” To make participation easier, the agency sends each licensed trapper a postage-paid, addressed envelope.

Comment: This appears absurd. Perhaps from experience a trapper can leave his deadly device where he thinks the desired species will show up. But he cannot be sure. Obviously he has no control over what species will be caught.

Is it clear to trappers that Nevada Administrative Code requires a response?

Language of the Regulation: NAC 503.160

“Failure to return the form or questionnaire within [the period designated annually by the
Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners] or the submission of any false information on the form or questionnaire is cause for the Commission or the Department to suspend the trapping license held by the person and deny the person the right to acquire any trapping license for a period of 1 year.” Is this regulation enforced?

To find an answer about enforcement, we refer to NDOW reports on trapper numbers from 2015 and 2016 which are the most recent we could obtain. So far requests for more current data have not been fulfilled. It appears the average compliance is 19%.

• In 2015 from a total of 1334 licensed trappers, only 223 (17%) handed in their end of season reports.
• For 2016 we do not have the total number of trappers, but only 58 individual trappers completed their reports.

Data from NDOW Furbearer Harvest Questionnaires 2002-2013

Animals

Bird species reported trapped:

Golden Eagle, Hawks, Owl, Blue Heron, Chukar, Coot, Ducks, Geese, Magpie, Quail, Rail, Raven

Totals