The following tragedies are becoming more common as callous trappers continue to place traps in popular areas used by outdoor enthusiasts. These are not isolated incidents, however, they are two of the most recent to come to our attention. Both dogs were killed while hiking or skiing with their owners. Please read below, and then help take action to ban these cruel painful traps by following suggestions at the end of the articles.
Lab Mix killed by trap near Kalispell, Montana.
Jack Russell Terrier killed by trap near Utica, New York
The day after Christmas, Liz Feist was skiing with her two dogs along a popular route near Kalispell, Montana when one of her dogs, Buddy, a lab mix, was killed by a predator trap set alongside the trail. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks had known about the traps and earlier in the month suggested that the trap owner move them, since they were in a high traffic area. However the traps were not moved. Now, with the death of Liz's dog, department officials have become very defensive of their handling of the situation. Their comments seem to indicate they have little sympathy for the dog owner or the public. (Be sure to read the interview with game officials by Bob Muth).
Letters are needed to officials to urge them to modify the state laws that permit these dangerous traps to be set anywhere on public lands, regardless of the density of use. Please read the following:
Account by Bob Muth, a witness
Interview with state game officials
What you can do. Who to contact
I am not sure if I'll be able to finish this letter, but I need to try. I have lost a lot of faith in human nature tonight. My wife Laurie, Nahanni, and I just got home from skiing on an old logging road in the mountains behind our farm. About 3:00 pm we were approaching Trail Creek, about five miles up the mountain. Nahanni was alerting, and I remarked to Laurie that there must be someone or an animal near. We had seen a lot of lion tracks in the area, so I told Nahanni to stay close. About two minutes later a black lab came running around the corner of the trail barking frantically. We recognized her as one of the dogs belonging to a neighbor who lives in a cabin about a half mile from our farm. As we skied up to the dog, we heard Liz calling for help. Laurie, a critical care nurse at the Whitefish Hospital, skied quickly to Liz while I got Nahanni on the leash. Liz was sobbing and cradling her other dog, Buddy, in her arms. His head was in the jaws of a lion trap. I felt sure he was dead, but Liz sobbed that his heart was still beating. I was able to compress the trap and get it off Buddy. Laurie stayed with Liz while I raced back with Nahanni and got the four wheel drive. It took a long time, and I was worried about Laurie and Liz out in the cold with the night rapidly falling on the mountain, but they didn't want to leave Buddy. When I finally got back to them, Liz was accepting that Buddy was dead. We loaded Buddy, skis, packs, and that damn trap into the rig and headed down the mountain.
Laurie said they passed the time waiting for me with Liz retelling the story of Buddy's life and all his antic's. Liz didn't know how long she had been with Buddy until we happened on them. She was blaming herself for being too weak to open the jaws of the trap, but I think Buddy's neck must have been broken from the initial springing of the trap. Liz is young-probably in her mid twenties- and her two dogs were her life. She spent countless hours with them mountain biking, running, and skiing. No dogs could have asked for a more loving and caring master. I can not begin to explain in words how Laurie and I ache for her. We called a few minutes ago, and her voice was a faint and distant whisper. I have been in contact with the Montana Fish and Game and they tell me that the man (I use that term with severe reservations) had a legal right to trap in the area. The Fish and Game seemed to be more worried about the image the trapping fraternity would get from this, and asked me to let them "handle the investigation and get back to me." Tomorrow I am going to the newspapers.
I have never been politically active in an issue because I thought I didn't have the time. This incident and Liz's pain has galvanized my feelings against the inhumanity of trapping. Buddy was part lab and ?? He was very sweet and loving.
Thanks,
Bob Muth
Postscript: Bob Muth added the following after the newspaper article below was published:
Gino Fasano, the owner of the local Baskin-Robbins ice cream store, called after he read the article and told me that he & his wife were walking their yellow lab in the same area A WEEK ago when his dog was caught in one of this traper's traps. Fortunately, he was able to get the trap off immediately and save his dog; however, he said his wife hasn't slept since. The unbelievable part of this is that Fasano reported this to the Fish & Game Dept. and they came out and "investigated the incident." In other words, they were aware that a dog had been caught in one of the same traps that Buddy was killed in and they did NOTHING about it. The Bastards! They will, of course claim when I confront them tomorrow, that they had no authority to make the trapper remove his traps. But there was no law that said they had to remain silent when they knew that people were skiing in the area with their dogs. They could have saved Buddy's life. No wonder they asked me not to go to the press and "let them investigate this and get back to me."
Latest Updates - The following material was received from Bob Muth on January 3rd and 5th
Lis is hurting, and I am not sure she had the desire to see this thing through. She was hurt by the trapper saying in the newspaper that Buddy died because of her own stupidity. After talking to Meg (Massaro - who's dog Valentine was killed by a trap in New York last year), she is ready to do whatever it takes. The Missoula TV station did a feature on Liz & Buddy in the news two nights ago, & she was great. Montana has been a black hole in trapping law reform, but not anymore. Buddy's life is going to stand for something.
The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Dept., in conjunction with The Montana Trappers Association came out with a news release telling the public that a massive, trapper education program is going to be initiated. The Fish & Game told me that they are going to mail guidelines for ethical trapping to every licence holder in Montana, and this will take care of the problem.
Remember, they told me nothing is ever helped by going to the press. I wonder then, if this idea is so wonderful, why they didn't initiate it a week before when Mr. Fasano's lab was caught in one of Hawk's traps. It is only the press & public opinion that has made them sit up and even make this token effort.
Voluntary guidelines ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM.The Fish & Game has had a trapper education program operating for years. Only the force of law will make the Hawks of the world change their trapping methods. The way the regulations now stand, a trapper in Montana can use a conibear or leg hold in the center of a forest road on National Forest land and be legal.
Here are some highlights of the news release:
Gary Wilson, former president of the Montana Trapping Association said, "Our image is dark enough without unfortunate incidents like this happening." (Referring to Buddy's death.) "Ninety-five percent of us do not trap in this manner."
(Bob Muth's comment: The Fish & Game & the trapping association is now trying to disassociate themselves from Mr. Hawk, the trapper who trapped Buddy. Remember, during my interview they called Mr Hawk " a responsible trapper" and he (Hawk), in the past had trapped for the Fish & Game. The Regional Supervisor of the Fish & Game actually called him a "bad apple" on the phone to me. How fast their allegiances fade when they smell bad PR.)
Wilson said, "We are educating the trappers, but how do we educate the public?" Meaning, how do we educated the public that we are good guys. The article concluded by Wilson saying, "We are doing Montana a service. It's a good service."
Following is Bob Muth's response to their press release:
January 5, 1998
Bob Muth
2902 Foothills Rd.
Kalispell, MT 59901
BUDDY'S DEATH
TO THE EDITOR:
After several years in Nepal, Jon Kabat-Zinn wrote, "If I
can't do anything useful, at least I would like to do as little
harm as possible." In a similar attitude of non-harming and
respect for all living creatures, the Dalai Lama expressed this
idea of "ahimsa" as simply, "My religion is
kindness." In The Daily Inter Lake (Jan. 4th, 1998), trapper
Dave Wallace said, "It's not economics that drives a person
to trap. It's something that gets in your blood."
Insane levels of violence dominate our lives and thinking today. Our entertainment and news is permeated with violence. Animal abuse, child abuse, and family violence are being recognized more and more as tightly correlated. Rather than acting out on the violence that "gets in your blood," why not try to live so as to cause as little suffering as possible?
On the day after Christmas, Liz Feist's loving, Labrador- cross dog was caught in a steel trap on Trail Creek Road. Liz struggled to free Buddy as he died a pitiful death in her arms. I don't think Buddy's nervous system, a pine martin's nervous system, or mine are all that different. The steel jaws of a trap, smashing closed on a neck or paw, inflicts unbelievable amounts of suffering. I am sure that it is not the intent of trappers to cause suffering. And there are legitimate reasons when trapping may be necessary.
This summer, the Fish & Game used a live trap to try to capture a troublesome black bear on our farm. To mitigate flood damage, beaver may need to be controlled. Humane methods, using live-catch traps, hazing, or adverse conditioning would be a step toward lowering the violence level in our world.
The willingness to harm or hurt comes ultimately out of fear. Are we willing to own our fear of change and break the circle of suffering? Ahimsa.
Sincerely,
Bob Muth
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by Ben Long
The Daily Inter Lake
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A winter ski along Peter's Ridge Road turned dreadful for Liz Feist on Friday, when her dog was killed in a predator trap.
While there was nothing illegal about the trapline, some Foothills Road neighbors are angry about the incident and at least one is calling for tighter restrictions on trapping near recreational areas.
Feist had been skiing with her two dogs along that road. But one of them, a Labrador mix, that weighed about 50 pounds stuck its head in a trap set for predators.
"I heard the trap and then this horrible howling," she said. "He had this steel trap around its neck. "It was too strong. I struggled and struggled. It just felt like forever...It wasn't a quick death. He suffered a lot."
Her neighbor, Bob Muth, happened across the scene. "I've never seen anything as traumatic as this girl, trying to raise the dog from the trap," Muth said.
The trap was designed to capture an animal by the head and had been baited with chicken necks. It was about five miles from the intersection with Foothills Road.
Muth posted a description of the incident on the internet and received dozens of sympathetic replies, he said. They included offers for a free pup from kennels outside Montana, he said. Muth said he has skied and hiked in that area for 35 years without similar problems.
The traps were not appropriate on the shoulder of a popular skiing road, both he and Feist said. "This is not 100 years ago," he said. "At the very least, there should have been warning signs. I would never have taken my dogs there, had I known about the traps."
Dan Vincent, regional supervisor for Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, said the road is on Forest Service land and public forest is open for trapping. The traps had tags identifying the owner, Rick Hawk.
"There was nothing illegal about the traps or the operation of the traps, "Vincent said.
However, the department had gotten complaints about the
trapline earlier in the month. A game warden talked to the
trapper, suggesting he pull the traps to avoid a conflict, but
the traps were not moved, Vincent said. "It really is an
unfortunate situation." he said, adding that it is
indicative of a changing landscape, with a growing number of
people using public lands for recreation.
"We try to work with trappers, with a particular emphasis on
ethics," he said. "We try to reduce conflicts as much
as we possibly can, but sometimes it's unavoidable."
Following is an account by Bob Muth detailing his meeting with officials of the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks. In attendence were Dan Vincent, regional supervisor, Ed Kelley, captain of wardens, Sgt. Karl Brooks and John Fraley (public relations).
What was Mr. Hawk trapping on Trail Creek?
Answer: predators
What kind?
Answer: Don't know
What kind of trap killed Buddy?
Answer: Conibear
Do you believe this kind of trap is humane?
Answer: Yes
Why?
Answer: Because it kills instantly.
Then why did Buddy suffer so horribly in Liz's arms?
Answer: Don't Know.
Why was Mr Fasano able to remove and save his dog, if they kill instantly ?
Answer: Don't know.
Has Mr. Hawk ever done any trapping for the Fish & Game Dept.
Answer: Yes
Are you aware that at 3:30 pm, on Dec. 20th, Mr Fasano's yellow lab was caught in one of Mr. Hawk's traps?
Answer: Yes
Are you aware that Mr. Fasano reported it to your Dept. and that Sgt. Karl Brooks came out to investigate and walked the Trail Creek road to the trap with Mr. Fasano?
Answer: Yes
Are you aware that while they were walking to the trap, two skiers and a black lab passed between them and the trap and they were not informed by the warden that there were traps in the area?
Here is where the group became very defensive. I had to press the question to Mr. Brooks and he finally said he did not warn the skiers with the lab. I asked him why. He said "it was not necessary for me to legally,was it?" At this point the Director stepped in and said "Are we supposed warn a river floater of a dangerous log on the river? If we start that stuff we will become libel when we miss something. I rephrased the question:
You mean, you felt no moral or ethical responsibility as a human being to warn those skiers with the lab of traps in the area?
Answer: "No.I don't go down to Buttreys (a local supper market in the center of town) and warn everyone that it is the middle of hunting season."
I said, I don't see any comparison.
The meeting kind of fell apart here. The Director flatly refused to answer if he thought there was a need for reform in trapping regulations. He said that was a political question. Then he made the statement that "going to the press makes things worse in a situation like this. Look at the unibomber." I had no idea what he meant. He went on saying "this isn't Sweden or California and trapping is a way of life for many."
The startling new stuff here is that Rick Hawk, the trapper has worked for the Fish & Game. No wonder they are protecting him & don't want press. AND, the Dept.not only knew that Mr. Fasano's yellow lab was caught in the trap, but they saw two skiers and a black lab between them (the warden) and the trap and said absolutely nothing!
Currently, the most important action is to publicize this story at the local level. Letters to the following two newspapers are desparately needed, even if you live elsewhere in the country:
The Daily Inter Lake 727 E. Idaho Kalispell, MT 59901
The Missoulian P. O. Box 8029 Missoula, MT 59807
When writing these two newspapers you must limit your letter to 300 words and include your real name and real address and a telephone number where the letter can be verified.
You can also send comments to the state Fish & Game department, however it will probably not do much good:
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Comment Page
You can also contact the governor of Montana:
Marc Racicot (Republican) Governor of Montana State Capitol Helena, MT 59620 (406) 444-3111
Search engine to contact your own state's representative:
By Susan Foster
Milobear@aol.com
On November 11, 1997 I was walking down our rural road with 4 of our dogs; Tesla, a sheperd-lab mix, Holly, our daughter's Lhasa Apsos and Russell and Jackie our two terriers. Our home is in Upstate New York, about 20 minutes north of Utica. We live on 5 acres of conifer and hardwood, bordered by deep wooded ravines,and the West Canada Creek. It's a beautiful spot and one we chose because it is on a Dead End road and would insure that our children and pets would be safe and free to explore the 5 acre parcel.
The dogs were ahead of me about 30 feet and exploring a drainage ditch that runs along side the road. This ditch is about 2 feet deep, directly off the shoulder of the road. I watched as the terriers went down into the ditch and up the back side. I lost sight of them because there is a thick line of pine trees that run up the hill on that side of the road.
Suddenly I heard screams which I recognized as cries of pain and terror. I ran as fast as I could toward the sound of the cries, jumped down into the ditch and I could see Jackie and Russell. I moved a pine bough out of the way and to my horror, saw Russell hanging by his neck down the back-side of the ditch. He was struggling and twisting and it looked like his collar was caught on a section of barbed wire fence. My heart was pounding and I could feel myself becoming hysterical as my fingers groped around his collar to find where he was caught. In a moment, an instant and the worst second of my life, I realized it was not his collar that was caught. I felt the steel bars that were clamped tightly against his throat and the back of his neck - he was strangling - his head caught in an animal trap.
I screamed and pulled, trying desperately to pull the trap apart and free my beautiful little guy, but I could not get the bars apart. With each second I became more hysterical, more frustrated, more helpless as I pulled and pulled at the trap, but I could not free Russell. I watched as his eyes pleaded with me to help him, but no matter how hard I pulled, I could not release the trap. I watched him open his mouth wider and wider trying to get air, I saw his eyes began to glaze over and I held him against my face and chest. I sobbed as I told him how much I loved him, how sorry I was that I couldn't save him and I asked God to take him so his suffering would end. His body convulsed once, then again and yet again before he finally died. I was in the ditch with my dog for over 20 minutes. No, there is no quick death and certainly there is no creature alive that deserves to die in this cruel and inhumane way.
My heart goes out to those who have had to experience this senseless tragedy. I am writing anyone I can find who will listen to my story and write their politicians and wildlife manangers. I live in constant fear that it will happen again. My freedom to explore with my dogs is over. I feel like a prisoner on my own land.
Get the word out. These traps are cruel, vile, sadistic and should be banned in all states. The only way to institute change is for enough voices to scream in outrage so that there is no way they cannot be heard.
Write, call, talk to others who share your concerns. Don't wear fur, not even as a trimming. Be heard, it's the only hope we have.
Followup by Susan Foster in response to our request for more information
Our neighbors had called this man, Chuck Doris, because they had hired him this summer to trap a woodchuck that was in their garden. They never told me about the woodchuck because they know I would have been outraged to think they hired someone to kill the poor animal. These people are unfortunately ignorant about almost all forms of wildlife.
That morning, as I tried desperately to release Russell, she called Chuck Doris for help. When he arrived, he, of course, instantly removed Russ from the trap. He never said a word; no apology, no confession. This trap was 14 feet off the shoulder of the road and attached to a section of barbed wire fence that runs along the top of the ditch. It was on or almost on private property. I believe that the public right-of-way in our Township is 24 feet from the centerline of the road.
That morning I did not know my neighbor had called this man. I thought he was a concerned passerby who saw the commotion and stopped to help. I had my daughter call the man who owns the land where the trap was set to see if he had set the trap or if he had given anyone permission to trap on his land. He said no, was extremely sympathetic and also very concerned about the welfare of his two small children. They had planned to cut pine boughs for a Christmas Wreath right where Russ was killed.
Because I was still too hysterical to speak on the phone, he came over and asked me exactly where it had happened. There is only the one conifer tree line on his property, so he knew exactly where I meant and he went to the location. The trapper had taken the trap that killed Russ but when Lee (the landowner) got to the place where Russ was killed, he found another trap directly across the road with a dead raccoon. This trap was also a Conibear 220 and had the trappers name tag on it. Lee confiscated the trap, called the State Troopers and Mr. Doris was charged with trespassing.
We went to Court on December 2, 1997 Mr. Doris pleaded "not guilty". Back to Court on December 16, 1997 - case was postponed until January 20, 1998.
So, that's is where it stands. This guy does have a license to trap "nuisance" animals that is issued to him by the State of New York but my neighbors assured me that they had not re-hired him in November. Anyway, he wasn't on their land.