Editor:
Re: Sechelt trap regulatory bylaw
The BC Trappers Association represents approximately 2,900 trappers in B.C. including many on the Sunshine Coast. Our mandate is to promote sound, humane furbearer management through research, education and cooperation with other agencies. We are committed to the wise and sustainable use of all natural products in particular fur.
The association has been following the proposed trapping bylaw in Sechelt with interest and concern. Regulated and licensed trapping is, and always has been, recognized as necessary by wildlife biologists and provincial governments across Canada for: the prevention of disease, to control and manage wildlife populations and to reduce threatening human-wildlife conflicts.
To understand the ramifications fully of a trapping ban within the municipality, it is important that your council carefully consider how this will affect not only the local wildlife populations, but also public safety as a whole. It could have a significant impact on the ability of wildlife control operators to remove nuisance or dangerous animals from within the municipality. The proposed bylaw will ban the use of modern foot restraining devices and other certified humane traps, thereby making it impossible to catch and remove certain species of wildlife.
Municipalities across Canada are constantly grappling with nuisance wildlife complaints and wildlife experts do advocate that humane trapping is often the only solution to reducing potential conflicts. The BCTA supports non-lethal methods of capture, but we recognize that live capture and relocation is often not possible or feasible.
We suggest that all citizens of Sechelt seriously consider the implications of this proposed trapping ban and ask that you encourage your council to make their decisions based upon facts We encourage everyone to check out the facts on trapping at our website www.bctrappers.ca or at www.fur.ca the Fur Institute of Canada's website.
R.J. (Bob) Frederick
Chair/BCTA Urban Trapping W/G
