Dog’s death prompts debate between trappers, anti-trappers

By Jenny Harris - 03/19/2008

Will Moss / Ravalli Republic John Ruther is pictured with his yellow labrador Molly at Tucker Crossing in Corvallis, where his other dog Logan was recently killed in a snare trap during an evening walk.

HAMILTON — What began as a simple afternoon walk along the Bitterroot river for John Ruther turned into a violent and tragic event.

Two weeks ago Ruther took his golden retrievers Molly and Logan for their daily walk along East Tucker Crossing.

Logan got caught in a snare trap and choked to death.

“At first, I couldn’t tell what was happening to him,” Ruther said. “I was across the way from him and it looked like he was jumping around, fighting with something. As I got closer, I could tell by the way he was breathing that something was wrong, but I couldn’t see the snare because it was so tight around his neck. By the time I realized he was choking, there was nothing I could do.

“I watched my dog die,” he said.

Ruther is not the first who has wrestled with an animal fighting for its life after being caught in a trap.

While Montana has long celebrated multiple use of public lands, a growing number of domestic animals are becoming victims of one of the West’s oldest practices —trapping.

According to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, there are 3,000 licensed recreational trappers in the state. Somewhere between 45,000 and 50,000 fur-bearing animals are trapped during the regulated season in Montana each year.

Both seasonal and year-round trappers set traps on public and private land.

The fur bearer season is regulated and includes trapping for beaver, otter, muskrat, mink, marten, fisher, wolverine and bobcat. The season is open between Nov. 1 and April 15.

Anyone trapping for fur in Montana’s seven trapping districts must obtain a license.

Predators and non-game animals can be trapped year-round, with no license necessary, including coyote, weasel, striped skunk and spotted skunk. Non-game animals include raccoons, red foxes and badgers.

$2 million in revenue According to Montana Trappers Association President Paul Schmidt the trapping industry brings in $2 million to the state every year.

“Trapping is a multi-million dollar industry in Montana,” Schmidt said. “People should remember public lands call for all types of use, and the reality is traps are out there.” That reality has been a hard lesson for people who’ve lost their dogs to traps.

It’s something that happens, but not that often, Schmidt said.

“If people let their dogs run loose, that’s the way it is,” Schmidt said. “There are leash laws in all of Montana’s counties. Recreational use is for everyone, and multiple use is something that people should remember. Dogs need to be on leashes or under voice control. They’re taking a risk if people let their dogs run loose.” For Footloose Montana President Marty Essen, letting his dogs recreate responsibly is something that’s a vital part of life in Montana.

“Part of living in Montana is celebrating and using open recreation without worrying if your dog is going to be killed 50 feet off the trail,” Essen said.

After a year in existence, Footloose Montana is garnering a public membership that advocates the end of trapping.

“The response we’ve gotten from people has been unbelievable,” he said. “I think it’s because when we started this we had no idea how truly threatening traps are and how many there are. There’s a lot of holes in the state regulations and because of that people are getting angry. Who would think a deadly device is only 50 feet from a common trail?” Trapping regulations A handful of regulations exist for trapping in Montana.

According to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, traps should be checked at least once every 48 hours. On private land, a trapper must receive landowner permission before setting a trap. No such permission is needed to set a trap on public land.

On public land, it’s against the law to set a trap within a public road right-of-way. If no right of way exists, then a trap must be set at least 30 feet from the center line of a publicly owned, publicly maintained road within any subdivision of government.

On federal and state system roads and trails, a 50-foot setback is required. Traps must be set at least 300 feet from public trailheads and at least 1,000 feet from public campgrounds and fishing access sites. Those regulations are for ground sets only and do not include water or elevated traps.

See TRAPPERS, Page C3 It is not required to post a sign warning of a nearby trap.

Some Conibear traps must be enclosed to prevent unwanted game from being trapped in them, and no traps or snares can be set within 30 feet of exposed bait.

According to Footloose, on average, more than 49,000 animals trapped annually are reported. There is, however, no reporting requirement unless a protected species is accidentally trapped. Non-target creatures are those not intended to be trapped but end up in the trap anyway.

No database exists for the number of dogs that have been injured or killed in traps, except anecdotal evidence.

Footloose has created a database of incidents as well as maps of where traps are located on public lands so people and their pets can avoid them.

Currently, Footloose is taking its message across the state through television and Internet advertising and trapping release seminars.

Footloose hopes to bring its message of trapping education to all “who are not aware of the land mines,” Essen said. For more information on Footloose, visit www.footloosemontana.org.

Schmidt said that, although concern regarding domestic dogs accidentally getting caught in traps may be increasing, he is hopeful both parties can reach a working, coexisting relationship.

Reporter Jenny Harris writes for the Ravalli Republican in Hamilton. She can be reached at 363-3300 or at jharris@ravallirepublic.com.