- Introduction
- The Science of Wildlife Management
- What are Surplus Animals?
- Removal of Surplus Animals
- Further. Did You Know?
- Trapping is ETHICAL
- The Economic and Social Impact of Trapping
- If the Animal Rights Groups Succeed in their Objectives, Would this End Trapping?
The Canadian Fur Industry has been under fire from Animal Rights Groups for sometime. These groups are experts at manipulating the media who report or telecast anti-trapping claims without first verifying either accuracy or truth. We tend to believe what we read and view through various media sources; consequently, the public often holds views on trapping that are contrary to scientific evidence and nature's reality. Objectivity (fairness) can be exercised only when both sides of an issue are open to the examiner. The purpose of this page then is twofold:
- To provide the public with sufficient information to reconsider negative views they may hold on trapping issues.
- To provide those members of the public who have yet to form an opinion (and who are open to learning) to do so from a scientifically reasoned perspective rather than relying on emotion.
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Humans are by far the most numerous large animal on earth. The extensive industrial development, which sustains human survival and prosperity, has a tremendous impact on the world environment. Nature has been so altered and distrusted that interactions of predator and prey animals with their habitats no longer function in a ''balanced'' manner.
Wildlife management, therefore, is a science, which seeks to combat this phenomenon by maintaining optimum numbers and variety of wildlife on a continuing basis. One of its' several key components is the control of overpopulation through the removal of animals “that are surplus” to an eco-system's “carrying capacity".
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Nature by design produces excess populations annually. These surplus (excess) animals if not removed will die by any or a combination of the following causes:
Competition
Starvation
Disease
Predation
Vehicular mishap
Habitat destruction and degradation
In addition to posing a threat to themselves many surplus animals (often referred to as ''nuisance wildlife'') pose threats to human concerns:
Predation of domestic animals and house pets
Crop damage
Contamination of drinking water
Undermining dykes
Flooding of agricultural land and woodlots
Erosion of roadbeds
Spreading disease to humans and pets
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One of the most efficient and practical methods of removing surplus wildlife, is through regulated trapping, using humane trapping devices. YES!! ''HUMANE'' TRAPPING DEVICES! Did you know that Canada has spent 15 million dollars to date on humane trap research and leads the world in the application of humane trapping practices?
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That the fur industry is highly regulated by Government Legislation?
That competent wildlife biologists determine what species may be caught, in what areas, in what numbers and over very specific time periods?
That trappers in Nova Scotia are required by law to check their ''live catch'' traps at least once each day.
That regulations regarding the trapping of furbearers are strictly enforced?
That trappers are not permitted to harvest any endangered species?
That wild fur is environmentally friendly and synthetic fur, which is manufactured from petroleum by-products, is not?
That all new trappers are required to pass a Department of Natural Resources monitored course and attain a minimum standard of 90%?
That the principal focus of that course is the application of humane trapping techniques and the ''ethical treatment'' of animals?
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YES! Unless, of course, ones idea of the ethical treatment of animals include a prolonged and agonizing death through disease and starvation!! Simply stated, "trapping is a process that removes natures surplus far more humanely than nature can" a ripe old age in the wild is not an option!
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Did you know that the Fur Industry provides income for 80,000 to 100,000 Canadians in an age of chronic unemployment?
Can you imagine the cost in social benefits alone to the taxpayer if this industry should vanish?
Do we really want an industry that helps to ensure the continued presence of healthy reproductive furbearer population and contributes 350 million dollars annually to the Canadian economy to disappear?
Do we really want to support the demise of an industry that helps to maintain the cultural traditions of Canada's First Nations People?
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NO!! Because surplus animals, which by the way form the bulk of our nuisance wildlife problems, will still have to be removed. Who will this function? Government authorities will at the taxpayers' expense. Why add to an already heavy tax burden by supporting an anti-fur agenda?
Logical reasoning notwithstanding, anti-trapping activity continues to the detriment of the furbearers that Animal Rights Groups claim to protect. What the public often fails to formalize is that the ''antis'' offer no solution to the impacts that overpopulation, disease, competition for scarce food resources, starvation and habitat destruction have on animal populations? Regardless, these groups still manage to survive by soliciting funds from an unsuspecting public who believe the ''antis'' self-serving and contrived view of nature's reality.
If you have found this subject thought provoking, additional information may be obtained cost free from:
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THE TRAPPERS' ASSOCIATION
OF NOVA SCOTIA
Please send your name, address and postal code to:
email: Ross White
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