ODFW News: Trap Checks

[Pete]

For Immediate Release Friday, February 06, 2004

Commission adopts 76-hour trap check period for restraining predatory animals
Killing traps must be checked within 30 days

PORTLAND * After hearing oral testimony from three dozen people, the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission Friday adopted a 76-hour trap check time requirement for restraining traps set for predatory animals and a 30-day period for lethal traps.

In addition, the Commission voted to allow landowners, or their agents, experiencing damage by wildlife to livestock or agricultural crops a seven-day trap check period to alleviate the damage.

In making their decision, Commissioners said they needed to balance economics, harm to agricultural operations, and stress to trapped animals. They also took into account the intent of the 2001 Legislature that directed the Commission to adopt a trap check rule for predatory animals. Legislators wanted the Commission to provide some level of flexibility to landowners dealing with damage from wildlife.

Predatory animals are defined in Oregon statute as coyotes, rabbits, rodents, feral swine and birds that are, or may be, destructive to agricultural crops. The rule adopted Friday does not affect the existing law that requires trappers targeting furbearer mammals such as fox, bobcat, mink or raccoon to adhere to a 48-hour trap check time.

The Commission is the policy-making body for fish and wildlife issues in the state. The seven-member panel meets monthly.

The exact language of the adopted rule is:

"When trapping predatory animals as defined in ORS 610.002:
(a) Restraining traps and snares shall be inspected at least once every 76 hours and all animals removed. However, restraining traps and snares set by a person owning, leasing, occupying, possessing or having charge of or dominion over any land, place, building, structure, wharf, pier or dock, or their agent, and set for predatory animals damaging land, livestock or agricultural or forest crops, shall be checked at least once every seven days. Any person(s) acting as an agent for a landowner shall have in their possession written authority from the landowner or lawful occupant of the land.... (b) Killing traps and snares shall be inspected at least once every 30 days and all animals removed."

[straightweave]

Good work, Pete.



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