Achi news desk-
Prince Edward Island is examining changes to how animals are caught after the high-profile death of a dog in an illegal trap.
Trapping has long been a part of island life, but a recent petition with hundreds of signatures is asking lawmakers to end the practice.
Pierre-Yves Daoust, the researcher responsible for a report on tripping and tangling on PEI, spoke to lawmakers on Thursday. He noted the regulations already in place and said there are some cases where trapping is a necessity, such as with aggressive coyotes and infected animals.
There have been no recorded cases of raccoon rabies on PEI
“It’s very believable,” said Daoust, a wildlife pathologist. “Like anything, you want to prevent rather than treat the problem.”
He said those efforts are much more useful when there is a group of experienced trappers already operating in the area.
John LeLacheur, a representative with the Prince Edward Island Trappers’ Association, was also on hand to defend the custom.
“I’m not sure if I really want to bother even protecting trapping anymore. It’s been frustrating the last few years, but I want to protect trappers,” LeLacheur said. “They are hard working individuals. Most of the time they are trying to help their community.”
He called for better regulations on stray dogs, especially in wilderness areas where they can be a major problem for wildlife.
He said trapping is not the biggest risk to off-leash dogs.
“The biggest risk to dogs, you talk to any vet, it’s traffic,” LeLacheur said.
Many of the dog deaths have been in illegal traps, something he said a ban on legal trapping would not address.
The trapping season on PEI opens in the fall. Any changes to the regulations would be expected to happen before then.
