The Humane Society of the United States recently filed a citizen petition to end all recreational trapping in Colorado. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will consider the petition at the March 17 meeting. The meeting can be streamed on YouTube.
“All sportsmen should be concerned by these direct attacks on the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” said Jacob Hupp associate director of state services at the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “This is the third attempt by HSUS to reverse the very limited ability to trap in the state. Hunters, anglers and trappers must stand together in defense of science-based wildlife management.”
Take Action! Colorado members should contact the Parks and Wildlife Commissioners and urge them to oppose the citizen petition to ban trapping. The commissioner emails can be found below:
Dan Prenzlow (dan.prenzlow@state.co.us)
Marvin McDaniel (marvin.mcdaniel@state.co.us)
Carrie Hauser (carrie.hauser@state.co.us)
Marie Haskett (marie.haskett@state.co.us)
Taishya Adams (Taishya.Adams@state.co.us)
Betsy Blecha (betsy.blecha@state.co.us)
Charles Garcia (charles.garcia@state.co.us)
Dallas May (Dallas.May@state.co.us)
Duke Phillips (Duke.Phillips@state.co.us)
Luke Schafer (Luke.Schafer@state.co.us)
James Tutchton (James.Tutchton@state.co.us)
Eden Vardy (Eden.Vardy@state.co.us)
In 1996, a ballot initiative in Colorado amended the state constitution to outlaw recreational trapping and banned all traps, including live cage traps. Ten years later, in 2006, sportsmen in Colorado scored a major victory when the Colorado Wildlife Commission voted to open a recreational cage-trapping season for bobcats and furbearers. This petition will once again ban the use of live traps and end all forms of recreational trapping.
Trapping is an integral part of the North American Conservation Model and as such should be protected. Not only is recreational trapping one of the most strictly regulated outdoor activities, but it is also essential in helping to maintain ecological balance, reduce human-wildlife and to help stop the spread of diseases such as rabies.
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.
