Take Action Today! Nevada members should contact their state senators and ask them to vote NO on Senate Bills 364 and 365. These bills will ban trapping and result in poor management of many furbearing animal populations. Currently, SB 364 and 365 are in the Senate Natural Resources Committee where both bills are planned heard in committee, Tuesday April 4, at 1 pm in room 2144 of the Legislative Building. Nevada sportsmen can contact their senator by using the Sportsmen’s Alliance’s Legislative Action Center.
Two Nevada Senate Bills, Senate Bills 364 and 365, both sponsored by Sen. David Parks (D- Las Vegas), would place restrictions on trapping and ban trapping from all public lands.
Senate Bill 364 could also be titled the “trapper harassment bill,” because it makes the names and contact information of every Nevada trapper available to the public. This endangers law-abiding Nevada outdoors people who are engaging in the lawful and biologically necessary recreation of trapping. Because it is well known that there are extremists involved in the animal-rights lobby, allowing access of private information would endanger the well being of those who trap. Worse, it would also potentially put those who live with a trapper in harm’s way, including children.
Senate Bill 364 is also a transparent attempt to drive up the cost of trapping by requiring costly signs and tags. SB 364 is intended to send a message that trapping is dangerous, when there are very few accidents that ever take place.
Senate Bill 365 would ban trapping on public land. Because problem wildlife doesn’t recognize property lines between public and private land, SB 365 would greatly hinder the ability of wildlife professionals to prevent the spread of diseases, including rabies and the plague, as well as controlling predators such as coyotes.
Trapping is utilized by state fish and wildlife agencies, the federal government and Canadian provinces to control wildlife populations. It is recognized for its benefit in protecting waterfowl and upland game from nest-raiding predators as well.
Like hunting and fishing, trapping is strictly regulated by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Decisions involving the management of fish and wildlife should be free from politics to ensure that the needs of wildlife are balanced, and the people are adequately protected.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.