Agricultural Producers May Expect Increased Crop Damage As A Result Of Furharvesting Regulation Changes

There are approximately 1800 active trappers in Nova Scotia that harvest various furbearers in accordance with regulations that are administered and enforced by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources. These trappers are represented by the Trappers Association of Nova Scotia that advocates humane and efficient trapping methods while being committed to help sustain healthy animal populations as renewable natural resources.

In the past, trappers have been allowed to set approved traps without obtaining permission on privately owned forest lands that are not posted and are located beyond 200 yards from dwellings. However permission has been required on cultivated lands, on posted forest lands and on any lands within 200 yards from dwellings. This permission requirement has now been extended to300 yards with the effect that multiple permissions are required from all neighbours within the distance in all directions; even if they do not own the property that the traps are set on. This means that the control of nuisance wildlife, that threatens the livlihood of farmers, is now dependent on neighborhood approvals rather than on farmer and trapper management.Trappers are people who generally keep to themselves so many farmers may not know that trapping harvests and population controls have been occurring in the forested areas around their farms.The new regulations will certainly result in losses for the farmer, the trapper and wildlife.

In 2005, some privately owned pets were caught in legally set traps. As a result, there was a forceful demand by the non agricultural community to have trappers further restricted by stiffer regulations. Thus, distance from dwellings has been increased to 300 yards; all traps and snares must now be tagged with trapper identification codes; beaver traps are no longer permitted in highway culverts; and the 160 conibear trap ( the most humane trap for raccoons) must now be set in a dog proof enclosure. These sets are inefficient during early fall when raccoons are still inflicting crop damage. Many pet owners still want the distance restriction from dwellings increased to 800 yards; even though they have no ownership rights to farm properties. Pet owners in general seem to feel that they should receive sole consideration, even on property they do not own.

Under certain cinditions, an agricultural producer with nuisance wildlife problems may apply to the government for a special removal permit that waives the current regulations. However this is only considered in special cases and conservation officers are reluctant to sign anything that could hold them liable. So now such situations have to be handled illegally. Trappers are not interested in harvesting a susrainable resource while preventing wildlife damage due to overpopulation. However,trappers can only make this attempt if the regulations allow.

A chart showing the Nova Scotia harvest levels for the past five years is shown below:

* Statistics taken form the trappers' harvest on the Department of Natural Resources web site.

These listed furbearers may give the agricultural producers the most problems. It can be seen that the populations are sustainable, and that the raccoons are actually increasing at a rapid rate. Thanks to the agricultural producers, ideal habitats have been created for wildlife, and, until now trappers, farmers and furbearer populations have benefitted.

Most trappers have grown up in rural areas and understand that agricultural producers face many challenges. The activities of trappers have been severely hampered by the new regulations. An internal survey has revealed that the 2005-2006 harvest levels have been reduced by approximately 50 percent despite very favourable weather conditions. This decline is further supported by provincial fur auction representatives. Two examples of this decline are worthy of mention. During the 2004-2005 season five trappers harvested 855 raccoons in the blueberry lands of northern Nova Scotia, while they only harvested 47 during the past season. The associated outlook suggests a probablility of over population and crop damage. The second example relates to the Annapolis Valley that is now rendered almost impossible to trap by the new regulations. Map work, that considered the number of dwellings per square mile in the context of the 300 yard exclusion zone, has revealed that only 15 percent of Kings County can now be legally trapped without restricitons. How will farmers cope with the crop damage, predators and beaver flooding? The Trappers Association of Nova Scotia feels that advanced warning should be given to the agricultural producers in relation to the possible increase in wildlife damage during the upcoming crop season.

Farmers should feel free to contact the Trappers Association of Nova Scotia about any questions especially in relation to the impact of the new furharvesting regulations. If you, as agricultural producers, are incurring nuisance wildlife damges as a result of these new furharvesting regulations, please advise your MLA.

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

Public Information Committee;
Trappers Association of Nova Scotia

Ross White : 895 0847
Gary Fisher