Dec 03 2005
Editor, the News:
Re: A war of wits (News, Nov.
26).
I am writing on behalf of the
Animal Welfare Institute in response to Phil Melnychuk's Nov.
26 article, "A War of Wits."
In the article, interview
subject Maurice Jenkins provides some inaccurate information
about the trapping of animals - a practice that should not be
a long-term solution to controlling beaver populations.
The conibear and steel-jaw
leghold traps, two devices used by Jenkins to trap beavers in
Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge, are not considered humane as
indicated. Jenkins claims it is his desire that the animals he
traps die "instantly and as painlessly as possible."
However, after 50 years of
trapping, he should know that neither of the traps he uses
produces such a result.
The conibear trap, which
Jenkins prefers, is advertised as a kill trap because it is
designed to break an animal's neck or back upon being
triggered. But, unfortunately, its victims are frequently
miscaught in the trap and do not die instantly. Instead, these
animals are often forced to endure excruciating pain before
they die.
The leghold trap, Jenkins'
second choice, is not designed to kill an animal outright, but
rather to restrain the catch until the trapper returns.
Jenkins says, "The whole design of the leghold trap is to
minimize damage to the animal."
The truth is that animal
victims of leghold traps not only suffer intense pain, but
they may also sustain severe injuries, such as torn flesh,
ripped tendons and ligaments and broken bones.
Trapped animals can also
suffer distress, dehydration, blood loss, hypothermia from
exposure to severe weather and predation by other animals
until the trapper returns.
The World Veterinary
Association, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the
American Animal Hospital Association and the National Animal
Control Association have all condemned the use of these traps
as inhumane.
Additionally, using a leghold trap in the water to drown a
beaver is just as cruel as using the device on land.
According to scientific
study, it takes an average of nine minutes and 30 seconds of
intense struggle underwater before a beaver loses
consciousness (Gilbert FF, Gofton N 1981, Terminal Dives in
mink, muskrat and beaver. Physiology and Behavior 28 835-840).
Conibear and leghold traps
are also hazardous to people because of their indiscriminate
nature. Based on their design, they have the potential to harm
whatever triggers them, including people, domestic animals and
endangered species. Perhaps that is why Jenkins attempts to
place his traps in locations where pets and people do not
typically frequent.
Fortunately, there are less
cruel methods of controlling the beaver population in Pitt
Meadows and Maple Ridge. Live trapping is mentioned, but is
inaccurately characterized as dangerous to people. The use of
cage or box traps does not threaten people because these traps
are not designed to injure or kill their victims. In fact,
there are live traps specifically designed to catch beavers,
including the Bailey and the Hancock.
A preferred option and a
better long-term solution for dealing with beaver and human
conflicts is to work with existing beaver in the habitat.
Beaver pipes can be installed
in dams to control flooding, while road flooding can be
controlled with Beaver Bafflers. There are several humane
alternatives to protecting trees from beavers, including
surrounding trees with cylindrical cages, coating them with a
sand/paint mixture, spraying them with repellents and/or
placing low fences around them.
It is time to put an end to
the war of wits. Instead of ineffectively battling the beavers
for their lives, Pitt Meadows should consider implementing
effective and humane alternative measures that will enable
humans and beavers to co-exist in peace.
Tracy Silverman
Animal Welfare Institute
