July 24, 2011 in Opinion, Letters

Wolf traps barbarous

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Trap a dog by its leg or neck, leaving it to struggle in terror and pain for up to 72 hours, and you’ll be charged with animal cruelty under Idaho law. Title 25 defines cruelty as “the intentional and malicious infliction of pain, physical suffering, injury or death upon an animal.”

Yet, Idaho Fish and Game proposes that Idaho wolves, cousin to our German shepherds, be subjected to the pain, injury and death by the use of snare and foothold traps. The proposal would allow wolf trapping from Dec. 1 through Feb. 15, 2012.

Steel foothold traps cause deep lacerations, bone breakage, joint dislocations and amputation. Snare traps, designed to strangle, are notorious for failing to kill, while inflicting massive injury. Trapped wolves can legally be left to suffer for up to 72 hours.

On Thursday, Fish and Game commissioners will vote on wolf trapping. Please contact IDFG and oppose this barbarism. Go to the Idaho Fish and Game website (www.fishandgame.idaho.gov) and complete the simple wolf survey there. Or mail comments to IDFG, Box 25, Boise ID 83707. The comment period closes Wednesday.

Forbid this state to shame and degrade us all with trap-torture of the beautiful, intelligent gray wolf.

Mary Anderson, Angela Clark,

Bob Hagen

Coeur d’Alene

Three comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  Freedom1080 on July 24 at 10:33 a.m.

  First off you would think educated people would have a clue what they are talking about before they write an article.

  The scientist have been trapping wolves for years and guess what the wolves were study and release unharmed. Now here is surprise who taught them how to trap and what traps to use? The trappers taught the so called experts the humane way to trap wolves with legholds. But the professional cry babies for the wolves are closed minded and don’t care about facts.

  Snares are a very good tool for controlling wolves. You would think that after 16 years of lies myths and misinformation the city dwelling wolf cult has but out they would be embarrassed and crawl back under their rock. Time for the adults to clean up the mess from the children and get these wolves under control.

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  IdahoRoper on July 24 at 12:05 p.m.

  For people really interested in the truth as opposed to emotionally driven propaganda. Here is a link showing trapping, modern traps and the ability to release non target animals unharmed.

  www (dot) youtube (dot) com/watch?v=Rsj-2o0ux14&feature=channel_video_title
  
  Note: remove the spaces and replace the (dot) with a .

  Wolves are not your pet dog, and it is about time to destroy that emotionally driven myth too. This situation is far beyond out of control and it is very much time to use every tool available to get it there. Wolves have saturated every possible habitat in Idaho and are now moving into rural towns such as Elk City, Potlatch and most of the town on the Clearwater river. They have been seen outside of Coeur d’ Alene and Post Falls, at what point do we lose the insanity that has surrounded the wolf issue and bring them into the successful management program that Idaho was once so well known for?

  So, you make the choice, video proof or unsubstantiated and emotional claims made by people who have no idea of what they are talking about.

  Every wolf that was brought down to be relocated into the lower 48 were in fact caught in a foot hold trap. Funny how Mary Anderson, Angela Clark and Bob Hagen weren’t crying about that trapping!

  Please support Idaho Fish and Game in their attempts to use every valid method to bring valid wolf management to Idaho.

  P.S. No, I am not, nor have I ever have been a trapper. But I am informed and educated in wildlife management and the necessary tools to accomplish it.

• 

  Kadah on July 25 at 11:22 a.m.

  First of all, a wolf is not your pet dog. Second of all, and counter to the insinuation of Anderson, Clark and Hagen, wolves are vicious killers who often leave the game they kill for lust (sport killing) to die long, drawn out, painful, tortured deaths. They tear fetuses from the wombs of elk, deer and moose and leave the female to die. They disembowel their prey and leave them standing with their guts hanging out to die a tortured death.

  The whole idea that a wolf is a passive, friendly, Disnesque creature is a crock. Get surrounded by a pack of them and if you live to tell the story, it’s not an experience you will ever forget.

  This says nothing of the diseases they carry - first and foremost being Hydatid disease which, counter to the claims of the USFWS and state wildlife agencies, is being spread to the human population. Like to go camping in the Idaho wilderness? Like to go fishing, hiking or just sight-seeing in the Idaho wilderness? You will be putting yourself and everyone with you at risk of contracting Hydatid disease.

  These wolf-lovers need a reality check. They really don’t know a thing about wolves; they just want you to think they do.