[told in person] I live in rural Nevada, and have a flock of sheep. I was distressed to see coyotes attacking and killing my newborn lambs, and called Nevada Dept. of Wildlife for advice. They told me they would come out and kill all the coyotes. I told them I absolutely didn’t want the coyotes killed. But this was all NDOW had to offer. So I researched on my own and found out that llamas will fight coyotes off. I purchased four llamas and keep them with my flock of sheep. I have had no further problems with coyotes.
September 2008 told in person: Our dog, Kali, a
medium-sized, four-year-old Black Lab mix, was caught by the toe in a steel leg
hold trap near Los Altos in Sparks, a popular hiking area.These trails are
within city limits.
Kali’s owner could not open the trap, but the trap chain
came loose, so she carried the dog and chain for 30-40 minutes before meeting a
man who knew how to release the trap.
Kali’s toe bled, but healed eventually after the incident.
The owner called NV Dept. of Wildlife. The secretary told her the game warden was out, but the trap was legal because it was “25 feet from the trail.”
Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 503 states: “It is unlawful for any person, company or corporation to place or set any trap, snare or similar device used for the purpose of trapping mammals within 200 feet of any public road or highway within this State. “
January 2007 email: I live just outside Las Vegas, on the
Kyle Canyon exit about 6 miles up the canyon.
About the middle of January while on a trail ride my dog was
caught in a trap less than 4 feet off of a trail, with the help of a friend
that I was riding with we managed to release her and after making sure she was
ok we continued on and 5 minutes later she has another trap hit her face, and
the blow has caused permanent damage to her eye. I reported the incident to the
police and they put my in contact with fish and game, who basically told me
that I was breaking the law by removing the trap.
I had no idea that trapping was legal in the area, as it is considered conservation area, and he was using a quad to place the traps which are illegal. I contacted the local news channel 13 who agreed to do a story on the traps which aired about 2 weeks later, the trapper agreed to remove his traps due to the bad press. And the neighbors dog on the same day as mine was caught in a trap while she was out jogging, they had to pay an $800 vet bill. I’ve lived in this area for 9 years and am horrified that they can trap so close to our homes and not notify anyone in the area, the laws need to be changed …
Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 503 states: “It is unlawful for any person, company or corporation to place or set any trap, snare or similar device used for the purpose of trapping mammals within 200 feet of any public road or highway within this State. “
Summer 2001: Coughlin Ranch area near residences, within city limits. Skunk caught in a leghold trap. Leg was broken; bad injury. Animal eventually ran away. NHS, Animal Control and NDOW personnel were on scene. NDOW said it was legal to set this trap in residential area. – Told in person by individual who wants to remain anonymous
This is a different incident. This was at Cottonwood Park in Sparks. This little skunk endured agony all night, then was shot by NV Dept. Of Wildlife.
April, 2000: Sunshine, a golden retriever,was caught in a coyote trap in Macks Canyon near Lee Canyon in Mt. Charleston while I was mountain biking and I couldn’t find her for 5 hours. By that time she had tried to bite the trap from her leg so much that she had to have 5 teeth surgically removed.
NDOW did nothing but send an officer up here and tell me:
1) I had to return the
trap, but it was not identified.
2) Tough luck- 200 feet from a road that really isn’t a road
(although it is county maintained, it is just a 4 mile dirt road that goes to
nowhere- used for recreation in the mountains).
I made a stink about it and got coverage from 2 TV news stations. So that was the end of that. I have no doubt that it hastened Sunshine’s death later that year – Stephanie Myers
Reno Gazette Journal article March 17, 2010, by Mark Robison: “Cat caught in leghold trap in Sparks park – Fernley man cited”
This is actually a gorgeous ginger tabby! Soon to be named Trapper John and adopted by columnist Mark Robison.
A cat was nearly drowned and suffered a leg injury, a skunk was cruelly trapped and later shot in the head, a raccoon may have been trapped as well. All this in a Sparks park where children and pets play. This is the clearest story to date of the need for banning traps in all Reno-Sparks congested areas. Also points out urgent need for trapper ID on all traps.
Trapper John recovering
The little skunk endured a night of agony like this. Then NDOW personnel shot him in the head the next day because skunks are an “unprotected” species in Nevada.
This took place in a public park. Since there was no ID on the traps, Nevada Dept. of Wildlife (NDOW) wardens had to stake out the area. Eventually the trapper was found and cited, not because his traps endangered families recreating in the park, but because he illegally baited one of his traps. This Cottonwood Park episode provided a major argument for banning trapping in Washoe County congested areas.
