Posted on 04/29/2012 7:21:02 AM PDT by SmithL
The day began with a drive across the desert, checking the snares he had placed in the sagebrush to catch coyotes.
Gary Strader, an employee of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stepped out of his truck near a ravine in Nevada and found something he hadn't intended to kill.
There, strangled in a neck snare, was one of the most majestic birds in America, a federally protected golden eagle.
"I called my supervisor and said, 'I just caught a golden eagle and it's dead,' " said Strader. "He said, 'Did anybody see it?' I said, 'Geez, I don't think so.'
"He said, 'If you think nobody saw it, go get a shovel and bury it and don't say nothing to anybody.' "
"That bothered me," said Strader, whose job was terminated in 2009. "It wasn't right."
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
Just curious, how would you go about releasing a snarling coyote or wolverine as the article mentioned?
“Releasing non-target animals
Non-target animals should be released from the trap. If the animal is small enough, cover it with a wash tub or heavy blanket, pull the trap out and release the animal. A catch pole with a sliding loop that is placed over the animal’s head also works well.
Another method of releasing larger animals is to lay just enough brush, limbs or poles over the animal to pin it down so it can’t reach the person releasing it. When done with just enough pressure to pin down the animal but not to injure it, this method is the safest and least stressful on the animal and the trapper.”
http://mdc.mo.gov/hunting-trapping/trapping/trapping-coyotes
I myself would never release a coyote, the only good yote is a dead one.
Everyone in our county agrees that traps SHOULD be checked every 24 hours...but...
The law here in Tennessee is as follows:
**All trapping devices must be clearly marked with the owner’s name. All traps must be inspected every 36 hours or less and animals removed. When trapping on another’s property, the trapper must carry on his or her person written permission from the landowner, and make a written report to the owner of any domestic animal caught and pay damages for those animals.**
Unfortunately, there ARE those who break the law and ...without a name....it’s hard to prosecute. Our farm is in a very rural area and is quite large. It is surrounded on three sides by woodlands and has many springs, creeks and a small lake.
Click the link in post #24 and click the video link at the bottom of the page.
That shows how responsible trapping works and animals are released unharmed from leg-hold traps.
I have never blamed *responsible* trappers for anything.
As a matter of fact, we live-trapped a huge raccoon that was wreaking havoc around the barn in its attempts to get into the feed. The Wildlife authorities then took this animal and released him quite far away.
My whole point on this thread was that the article was BS in what it said about leg-hold traps.
They must be immediately released or dispatched. They don't want problem animals ( other than domestic and protected species) relocated to be a problem somewhere else.
The animal I referred to was released near a river in a conservation area. There was no one near who could be subjected to similar problems. Our Wildlife Service guys are terrific here in Tennessee. They know what they are doing and why. They know the area VERY well and they exercise a great deal of common sense. The good vets know them and work with them...as do the land owners. It’s a healthy and beneficial relationship all around.
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