Alaskan trappers send pelts to Girl Scout Troop (Up yours PETA)

Kenai Peninsula Clarion ^ | 12-22-2003 | JOSEPH ROBERTIA

[Trailer Trash]

 

Web posted Monday, December 22, 2003

Peninsula trappers giving pelts to scouts

By JOSEPH ROBERTIA
Peninsula Clarion

Last month, Girls Scouts from Fairbanks made national news after People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) cried foul over the troops trapping of beavers.

But some local trappers have banded together to show their support for the scouts' project.

The Kenai Peninsula Trapper's Association (KPTA) has agreed to donate several furs to Girl Scout Troop 34.

"We thought it would be a good thing to do," said KPTA member and 14-year trapping veteran Roy Smith. "We wanted to ensure that the girls would have enough furs to make the hats, mittens and other items they had intended to make before PETA got involved."

The trappers' reasons for supporting the Girl Scouts were many.

"Well, not only were the Girls Scouts learning about nature, diversity and the circle of life, but they were also trapping ethically, legally, and were planning on using the entire animal not just the fur," Smith said.

"Also, the beavers they were trapping were damaging the environment."

Smith explained that on the lower Chena River in Fairbanks the beavers are causing flooding and damage that can harm other species.

Also, the beavers numbers are so high that they are out-competing each other. If the population isn't curbed in some way ? as through trapping ? beavers could end up starving to death.

According to Smith, the Girl Scouts were helping the state. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game not only was behind them, but is overseeing it, too, Smith said.

The trappers believe not only was the controversy over this issue a matter of differing ideologies, but also a bit of cultural misunderstanding on the part of PETA.

"Here in Alaska, trapping and wearing fur is a tradition that's gone on for hundreds of years," said Craig Lott, KPTA chair. "Here it's as much about function as it is fashion. Fur serves a purpose. It's warmer ? ask any dog musher, they'll tell you.

"The mentality to trapping is different here. This is our cause and our beliefs, but we get attacked for them by groups like PETA. Their cause is, of course, animals shouldn't be used for consumptive use," Lott said.

However, he said he believes there may be a duplicitous agenda beneath PETA's public policy.

"They use propaganda," he said. "They bring attention to their cause to generate donations. It's all about money. They claim they are nonprofit, but the people at the top are getting paid huge salaries to oppose issues like trapping.

"I think if they really believed in their cause, they should do it for free."

Lott donated furs to the Girl Scouts. In all, the group has collected six beavers, one coyote and one wolverine.

"Anytime we can help, we try to," Lott said. "Hopefully this will help the girls out."

The trappers plan to mail the package to the troop this week.

[Trailer Trash]

Up yours PETA.....

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.

Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!

[Looking for Diogenes]

"I think if they really believed in their cause, they should do it for free."

Er, I'm not sure that is a stand anybody wants to take. That implies that any advocacy group or religion with paid leaders is suspect.

[GSWarrior]

BURN, BABY, BURN!!

I crave the flesh of the sacred cow
charred and dripping fat
I love the sight of a baby lamb
Spinning on the rack

I say, Burn!!
Burn!!
Burn, Baby, Burn!!

My guitar player likes to knaw the bone
and suck the marrow out
He plays a Marshall stack twenty feet tall
and grills a porterhouse

[Eska]

Most people in the lower 48 don't realize that many people in bush alaska still trap to provide partial winter income so that they can live where they choose. I Have neighbors that run 200 mile traplines with several small cabins; takes them 3-4 days to complete.

The feds did their best to stop all economic activity out here in the bush. Stopped gold dredging, Stopped commercial fishing, restricted hunting, no logging, and did their best to get everyone they could on welfare; rather than having people eke out an honest existence working. Clinton expanded it all. Use to be people cut firewood, trapped, and seemed to make ends meet in this hungry country. Today, half the white people are on quest cards, welfare, or social security disability; (the toe dough). They sit and watch the dish rather than cut their own firewood or than being productive. The other 50% may have one of the few govt jobs (teacher ect) or are retired, or have small business. The natives, not greedy and don't require much and govt gives them enough to get by and keep them happy.

Sad thing is that the community goes down the drain when this occurs.

Have more respect for the guy that dredges in the summer in one of the few areas still permitted and traps all winter. Too many sit back and have 8-9 kids on welfare.

Trapping is one of the last income sources still available that is permitted by feds out here that don't choose welfare.

[Fintan]

I dunno, I guess it was the part about Girl Scouts trapping beavers that stopped me in my tracks...

[night reader]

That implies that any advocacy group or religion with paid leaders is suspect.

Hmmm... As a Latter-day Saint, I can buy into this premise. For those who are not aware, LDS do not have a paid ministry.

[marsh2]

Trapping is part of the traditional culture here in far northern CA. Folks log or gold mine in summer and trap in winter. Some also run hounds. The PETA and anti-trapping folks are destroying the viability of this historic and traditional culture. It diminishes us as a people to lose skills useful in basic survival. Different lifestyle strategies are part of the diverse cultural fabric here. Liberals want to homogenize everyone into only those beliefs and practices acceptable to them.

[Grammy]

Hey, Alaska, over here....
I could use a couple of coyote skins!

[Looking for Diogenes]

As a Latter-day Saint, I can buy into this premise. For those who are not aware, LDS do not have a paid ministry.

More power to you. Doing work without pay is noble. But does receiving pay invalidate one's mission? Is the Pope just in it for personal gain? Is the president of the NRA just doing it to make a salary? Even if you disagree with these organizations, I think we can all agree that the senior, paid staff are fully committed to their missions and are not simply motivated by cash.