by Doug Chiasson, Executive Director, Fur Institute of Canada
Considering how much trapping of wildlife takes place in Canada, it is very rare for pet dogs to become accidental victims. Finding a dog in their trap or snare is not something any trapper wants, but accidents do happen, and they almost always involve someone breaking the law. Maybe a trap was illegally set, or maybe a dog was off-leash where it shouldn’t have been. Yet when the media report these stories, they hardly ever investigate the crime that’s been committed. Instead they turn the story into an indictment of all trapping, including by licensed, law-abiding trappers.
Why is this imbalance occurring? And what can the trapping community do to encourage more balanced and accurate reporting?
Let’s start by looking at two recent stories involving traps catching the wrong animals.