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A grassroots ballot initiative campaign has been launched in Oregon to ban the
use of cruel and indiscriminate traps, including the dreaded steel-jawed leghold
trap. Ryan Ramon has endorsed this measure.
Dozens of groups are working throughout Oregon to qualify and pass a statewide ballot
initiative for the 2000 ballot to add a new statute to ban the use of steel-jawed
leghold traps and neck snares, restrict the use of other body-gripping traps, and
outlaw two deadly poisons (Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide). We are asking for your
support of this important measure.
The Oregon trapping initiative is the latest offensive in a national campaign to
ban cruel traps. Since 1994, voters in Arizona, California, Colorado, and Massachusetts
have approved severe restrictions on steel-jawed leghold traps and other body-gripping
traps. Quite simply, the use of the ballot initiative process is the single most
effective means of securing a ban on cruel traps.
Steel-jawed leghold traps and other body-gripping traps can cause severe injury to
wildlife and pets. Lacerations, broken bones, and joint dislocations can result from
the jaws of the trap slamming shut. Further injury results as the animal struggles
to free himself, sometimes chewing off or twisting off a limb or breaking teeth from
biting at the metal trap. The steel-jawed leghold trap has been declared "inhumane"
by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the World
Veterinary Organization, and the American Animal Hospital Association.
Animals suffer almost endless misery in the traps. Oregon has one of the most lax
trap-check laws in the country, with trappers required to visit the traps only every
48 hours, except for coyotes for whom there is no trap check requirement.
Steel-jawed leghold traps are indiscriminate. They catch any animal who triggers
them including protected species such as eagles, kit foxes, and family pets. The
majority of smaller animals (birds, rabbits, squirrels, etc.) unintentionally caught
in traps die or have to be destroyed because of serious, disabling injuries. These
devices are like landmines for wildlife. Studies demonstrate that for every target
animal caught in a trap, there are one to ten non-target animals that fall victim
to these devices.
Commercial and recreational trapping is not a management tool, given that there are
no bag limits and no limits on the number of traps that can be set or animals that
can be killed. Commercial and recreational trapping activity is driven by the price
of pelts, not by the need to manage wildlife. Game managers do not even have population
estimates for species trapped in Oregon. Commercial and recreational trapping with
steel traps amounts to random killing of wildlife.
Studies show that some furbearers have natural fertility and breeding controls (coyotes)
when not disturbed by humans, while others experience natural boom-and-bust cycles
(muskrats). Trapping is pointless as a management activity.
In 1997, 937 commercial and recreational trappers reported killing 44,658 furbearing
mammals. Animals with commercial fur value trapped in Oregon include badger, beaver,
bobcat, gray and red foxes, marten, mink, river otter, raccoon and weasel. In addition,
trappers undoubtedly kill tens of thousands of non-target animals, who suffer in
traps and then discard them because there is no reporting requirement for "trash"
animals.
Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide are poisons deadly to predators and other wildlife
and pets. Compound 1080 is currently not being used in Oregon because Governor John
Kitzhaber is strongly opposed to it. USDA registration for the use of 1080 in Oregon
was cancelled because of his objections. However, when he leaves office, newly-elected
officials -- either a new Governor or the Legislature -- may attempt to return this
deadly substance to the state. This ballot measure will create a legislative ban
on Compound 1080. In addition, the measure will ban the use of sodium cyanide, which
is used in M-44 "coyote getter" devices set out, often on public lands,
to kill coyotes. Dogs and other animals sometimes trigger these indiscriminate devices,
resulting in more unnecessary killing.
In order to qualify this measure for the November 2000 ballot, we need to amass approximately
100,000 signatures. If you would like to volunteer to gather signatures, please contact
Kelly Peterson at (503) 872-9623 or Crueltraps@aol.com.
Look at our site at http://www.jps.net/propaw/
INITIATIVE CAMPAIGN TO BAN TRAPPING AND POISONING
IN WASHINGTON
STATE! SIGNATURE GATHERERS NEEDED!
Conservation and animal protection organizations have launched the Yes! on I-713
Campaign – a Washington State ballot initiative to ban inhumane and indiscriminate
traps and poisons. Volunteers must gather 235,000 signatures to place this measure
on the November 2000 ballot. We encourage our members to contact the Yes! on I-713
Campaign to help protect wildlife life from these indiscriminate traps and poisons.
In the last two years, more than 35,000 wild animals, including otters, bobcats and
beavers, were killed by commercial and recreational trappers in Washington state.
That’s more than 35,000 animals who struggled and suffered prolonged, painful deaths
after being caught in steel-jawed and padded leghold traps, Conibear traps, and leg
or neck snares. In reality, the number of trapped animals was even higher because
traps are indiscriminate and severely injure and kill thousands of "non target"
animals, including family pets, songbirds, birds of prey, deer, and even threatened
and endangered species. Trappers refer to these animals as "trash animals"
and are not required to record their deaths. Even trappers admit that between two
and three "non target" animals are trapped for every target animal.
Trappers in Washington state are legally allowed to wait between two or three days
in most areas to check traps after they have been set. This means that trapped animals
can remain trapped with extensive injuries for up to 72 hours, with no protection
from the elements or predators. In desperation, a trapped animal will often chew
her foot off to escape from the trap. When trappers eventually do return to their
traps days later, they use routine methods to kill trapped animals that are found
alive. These methods include stomping, bludgeoning, drowning, neck breaking and gun
shots.
Poisons used to kill fur-bearing predators such as coyotes are equally indiscriminate.
Secondary deaths can result when other animals (including family pets and threatened
or endangered species) feed on the remains of poisoned victims. Studies indicate
that as high as 90 percent of poisoned animals are not recovered. These poisons do
not degrade readily and can remain in the environment, posing threats to wildlife
and domestic pets.
THE TIME HAS COME TO PUT AN END TO TRAPPING AND POISONING IN WASHINGTON STATE!
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED to gather the thousands of signatures needed in order to place
this initiative on the November 2000 ballot. This measure would ban all body-gripping
traps including steel-jawed and padded leghold traps, Conibear traps, leg and neck
snares and two types of poisons (Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide). It allows exceptions
for individuals to use some body-gripping traps, including padded leghold traps and
Conibear traps, to protect public safety, private property and threatened and endangered
species after non-lethal means have been exhausted.
If you are interested in gathering signatures (February through June) and would like
to be put in touch with local
volunteers, please contact:
Yes! on I-713
Protect Pets and Wildlife
5200 University Way NE #201
Seattle, WA 98105
Phone: (206)526-0949 Fax: (206)526-0989
Email: bantraps@seanet.com
Web Site: http://www.jps.net/propaw/
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