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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS

MONTH: November 2006

Three states are sued over trapping methods

 

The Animal Protection Institute, of Sacramento, California, on September 20 and October 12, 2006 sued the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife for permitting trapping by methods that jeopardize endangered and threatened species.

In Minnesota, API director of wildlife programs Camilla Fox told Associated Press, "Between 2002 and 2005, at least 13 Canada lynx were incidentally trapped in snares and traps set for other species. In Maine, records show that a minimum of five Canada lynx were caught in traps in 2005 alone. At least two of the lynx were kittens."

Sinapu, of Boulder, Colorado, and Forest Guardians, of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on October 10 sued the Colorado Wildlife Commission for authorizing the use of box traps to capture mink and pine marten, who would then be killed and pelted. The authorization was issued on July 13, at request of the Colorado Trappers Association.

Sinapu and Forest Guardians contend that the authorization violated the intent of a 1996 amendment to the Colorado state constitution which prohibits any use of poisons, leghold traps, or body-gripping traps on public land. Sinapu and Forest Guardians also contend that the Colorado Wildlife Commission lacks information about the abundance and distribution of mink and pine marten, and violated its own rules of procedure in approving the trappers' request.

Wyeth and a third plaintiff, Carol McCreary, 59, of Reno, announced on October 4 that they had reached an out of court settlement, on the eve of going to trial. The terms were not disclosed.
Between 4,500 and 14,000 similar cases are pending, according to conflicting reports.