Dec. 20,2011 Email
Hello,
I came across your site after doing some research regarding NV state trapping laws.
Yesterday, I was out on public land walking my dog when he became caught by a leg hold trap. To say the experience was tramatic and horrific would be an understatement. I managed to get the trap off of him, got bit somewhat in the process, but I can’t blame him as he was very fearful and no doubt in pain. Fortunately, after a trip to the vets for x-rays etc., other than some bruising & swelling, it appears that no serious damage was done at this point, but I’m still very much shaken by the event.
I looked online to see what the laws were. It would seem to be common
sense for it to be posted that traps are in the area, but it seems there
is no such requirement therefore I’m appalled that this trapping was
being done legally most likely. I’m not
against hunting/trapping per
se, altho I’ve always felt the leg hold traps were cruel, and after having my
dog get caught by one, feel even more so about that, especially after learning
the trapper isn’t required to check the trap for 90 some hours.
I live in Elko county so the new law wouldn’t help here, I
would like to
see a ban on these traps statewide, or at the very least, require that
it be posted traps are in the area and the trappers are required to
visit the traps more often. Had such a
sign been posted we would have
immediately left the area. I enjoy
walking my dog, off leash, on public
lands, but now am very wary of doing so during trapping season. I’ve seen some of the trappers’ defense of
“Well, the dog should have been on a leash”. What about hunting dogs? And afterall, there should be some areas,
i.e. public lands, where a dog can be allowed to be off leash, and well…be a
dog! I realize there are risks with
that, such as snakes & possibly injuries from running through woods and
rocks etc., but it doesn’t seem right to me to now have to take into account
there’s also hidden, undisclosed, buried traps, that can cause serious bodily
harm to either pet or human, that may be out there lurking. Short of avoiding letting my dog off leash
during trapping season, I’m now extremely paranoid of going out on public land
for hiking.
In the meantime, what can I do, being in Elko county, to help facilitate
passage of more reasonable, safe and above all humane, trapping laws?
If you have any advice or suggestions, I would be grateful.
Here is evidence that the “rurals” have differences of opinion about trapping. A Feb. 28, 2017 poll conducted by Remington Research Group shows the majority of Nevadans
in all Congressional districts favor banning traps