by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc.
Did you know, leg-hold and conibear traps are still legal in New York State? I know this from firsthand experience with both kinds of traps. Several years ago, I was called out at 6am for a cat caught in a conibear trap on a person’s front lawn. Conibear traps are designed to slam shut on an animal’s spinal column and kill instantaneously, but investigations have shown that animals often die slowly and painfully. Miraculously, the cat survived, likely due to the position of the trap, being an intact male with a very thick neck and being rescued in time.
Recently I responded to a young, healthy fox caught in a leghold trap very near the shelter. Leghold traps are designed to shut immediately after an animal steps on them, mutilating the limb or paw. It was horrifying to see such suffering. We were able to remove the trap and move the fox into a carrier to take it to the vet. Unfortunately, the trappers arrived to claim their “catch”. I offered to release the fox to a licensed New York State rehabilitator, but they adamantly refused as was their right according to the law. It was heartbreaking to have to leave the fox, not knowing how or when it would be destroyed. Our mission is to rescue animals in distress and if necessary, offer them a humane death. The indifferent attitude of the trapper for this animal has left a knot in my stomach. The lack of empathy for the animal’s physical and emotional suffering abhorrent. The explanation given for trapping in this area is to reduce the population of diseased fox of which this one was not. It didn’t matter. It was their “catch”.
After a bit of research, I learned that trappers have rights according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation: “No one may disturb a trap lawfully set by another person; No one may remove a lawfully trapped animal; No one may harass a trapper while they are trapping”.
By their definition “to trap means to take, kill or capture wildlife with traps including the shooting or killing of lawfully trapped animals”. Red and grey fox, raccoons, skunk, coyote, opossum and weasels can be legally trapped between October 25th through February 15th.
There is a code of ethics promoted by the D.E.C. and number six states “be aware of free roaming domestic animals and avoid trapping where there is a high risk of trapping them”. Does near the animal shelter managed by the HUMANE Society count as a high-risk area? In my opinion, YES. FYI, leghold traps have been banned or severely restricted in more than 100 countries and seven states.
Legislation is needed to ban these archaic traps. Traps are indiscriminate, capturing those not intended, including endangered animals, pets and people. They can leave permanent physical damage and animals suffer pain, trauma and stress and when immobilized experience dehydration, hunger, panic-induced self-mutilation, and exposure to weather and predators. All of which constitutes ANIMAL CRUELTY. “Wild animals deserve the same considerations and humane treatment as domestic animals”.
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Adoption applications are available at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information.
