Canada’s
Emblem a ‘Nuisance’
Investigation
Reveals Deadly Traps Close to Home
A
Fur-Bearer Defenders' investigation (2003 to 2005) has revealed that Canada's
national animals are being trapped and killed each year in the Lower Mainland of
BC and in Municipalities across Canada, in the name of 'beaver control'.
Trappers
contracted by the Municipalities are using the horrific body holding
Conibear traps, killing the beavers, and selling their pelts to the Fur Trade to
make fur coats, and fur trim for vests, scarves, earmuffs, etc..
The investigation also revealed that most City Councils and the public are not aware of this ‘nuisance beaver’ problem and the drastic lethal measures some are taking in a misguided attempt to fix it. As well, area residents are proving to be dangerously uninformed about the inherent safety risks of having steel traps in urban areas. Two beloved pet dogs were recently trapped and slowly killed right in front of their families in two separate incidents where the traps had been authorized by local municipalities. In another incident, a little boy had a very close call when his leg became entangled in a huge trap set by yet another municipality (see "Boy Caught in Cruel Trap" item on our Hot Topics page).
Most municipal Councils, Fur-Bearer Defenders found, have no policies on how to effectively deal with these types of wildlife challenges and have simply left that responsibility in the hands of the Engineering or Drainage Department . These departments often just hire trappers without even the Mayor’s or Council’s knowledge – let alone the taxpayers, who are footing the bill for this short-term 'solution'.
Fur-Bearer Defenders is combating this problem by sending our 'Beaver Saver Packs' to municipalities. The packs include a video, expert testimony and contact info, and instructions Fur-Bearer Defenders has assembled on how to select and construct humane, non-lethal devices such as pond levelers, Beaver Bafflers and Beaver Deceivers. These structures provide inexpensive, humane, and long-term solutions to flooding and other beaver related issues.
In addition, we are bringing public awareness to the issue and encouraging everyone to take responsibility for your local animals. If you don't do it, who will? Find out from your municipality if they are authorizing beaver trapping. Let Fur-Bearer Defenders know what you find out. If they are trapping, get involved. Help. The hardest part is believing that YOU CAN DO IT!