On
July 24, 2004, my husband Rob, myself and our daughter Jade
went for a hike on the terraces at Ward
Mountain. We drove to the terraces via the Lion Springs
road and did not see any postings for government trapping; it was posted on
another access road but not the one that we used. When we got to the terraces we went on our
hike on the main road and about 10 minutes into the hike our dog Dice got his
foot caught in a trap that had been set 5
feet from the roadway by a government trapper.
He
was howling in pain and I had to try to hold him while he was biting me so that
my husband could remove the trap, I physically could not have removed the trap
by myself. We were all very traumatized
by this event and could not believe that a government trap would be set so
close to a public roadway, what if a small child had stumbled on to this trap? These traps could easily brake the leg of a
small child or domestic dog. What if a
family was driving or walking on this roadway and a wild animal had been caught
in the trap and they had to witness this torturous, painful event?
My
husband contacted the agency responsible for this careless act and was told
that it is illegal for government traps or commercial traps to be set so close
to a roadway and that they would be removed.
We
would like to hike in this area again but have not returned in the seven years
that have passed because we are still traumatized by what happened and too afraid
that our dogs will get caught in a trap.
This
type of illegal trapping practice should never be allowed to happen, traps
should never be placed in an area where people, children or domestic animals
are present.
I
have included pictures of the trap and its proximity to the roadway.
I strongly favor SB 226, legislation to “Prohibit the
use of certain animal traps in certain areas,” because I have seen too
many times the the horrible damage that victims receive from traps.
I have personally known people whose pets have been
seriously injured in these traps very close to housing.
JoAnne Jahnke
Since passage of SB226, it is illegal to set traps in firearms congested areas in Washoe County, and in certain areas in southern Nevada. As the urban interface is constantly expanding, this law needs to be re-examined.
March 16, 2011 Email: My dog has been caught twice in snare
traps along the Truckee River and recently caught in a beaver trap.
I realize trapping is legal but have a problem with Nature
Conservancy promoting nature and privately allowing people to come on
Conservancy property to exterminate the cottonwood eating beavers.
To me it is the hypocritical attitude that is a problem and
not letting the public know traps are being used. My dog almost suffocated in
the snares. I understand the person trapping did not have permission; however,
my dog would have drowned had I not jumped in the river to remove the leg trap.
Labrador retrievers like water. I frankly do not like the
trapping.
Regards, Mark Banks
SB364 became law July 1, 2017. One measure requires NDOW (Nevada Department of Wildlife) to work with land management agencies to post warning signs where traps may be set
You should see trap warning signs on similar kiosksPlease notify [email protected] when and where you see one.
In the years I have trapped in the Spring Mountains, I have
never had an altercation or an incident with a dog owner. On one occasion I
have observed where I could tell that I had caught a dog, but the owner
obviously quickly released it. In fact, I have a dog that accompanies me on my
trap line and she has been caught several times, with no ill effect. In fact, I
catch myself several times a year with no adverse effects other than a firm resolve
not to do it again. . . .
. . . To my recollection, these incidents arise every few years, but in each case where the pet owner was reasonably close to the dog, the dog was released without harm. As I mentioned, my own dog gets caught several times a year and she has never suffered any ill effects from these encounters with traps.
Never suffered any ill effects from these encounters with traps!!!!
Personal email: On January 17, 2011, our six month old puppy McGee slipped away from our yard and could not be found. Two days later, he was dumped over our fence. McGee was wearing a collar with our address and three phone numbers on it. The trapper who found him did not call any of those numbers to notify us of his critical condition. Dehydrated, frost bitten and barely able to walk on three legs, he probably would not have lived if he had not dragged himself up to the house where I happened to be that day. His front paw had obviously been caught in a leg hold trap so I rushed him to the vet where I was told he may not live. The vet who treated him said he treats many dogs that get caught in leg-hold traps. Most lose at least part of their foot. Fortunately our puppy responded to hospitalization, and $800 later we have him home again. We still do not know whether he will ever walk without a limp. This occurred in an area where lots of people bring their dogs and is a short way from our house. The vet said the trappers are only required to check their traps every four days and should be required to check them everyday or use radio signal traps. How many dogs could survive trapped for four days?
