ANTI-TRAPPING AD IRRESPONSIBLE

In late December, an advertisement opposing trapping raised concerns at CWA. To maintain waterfowl populations, we must be able to manage their habitats and the wildlife that are present on those lands. Regulated trapping keeps both predator and prey populations healthy and balanced and supports the rural heritage of North American culture.

According to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the 15-second Public Service Announcement was produced by the Humane Society of the United States. It ran through the end of December on Fox Sports Net, which provides regional sports programming to 85 million households. The spot opened with a loud clank as a foot hold trap with teeth – a trap that has been banned throughout the country for decades – snapped shut.

Despite claims to the contrary, trapping is a management tool useful for controlling overabundance of predators that can cause devastation to other wildlife (particularly endangered ones) or rodents that can damage habitats (e.g., muskrats, beavers, etc.).  Uncontrolled wildlife populations are not something that we want to face, so it is imperative to take our stewardship obligations seriously.