Any more news? The fact a trap was set on some of the busiest trails near to Bend demonstrates that the agency responsible for laying down the rules, Oregon Dept of Fish and Wildlife, has had not the slightest effect with the promulgation of new rules, which allegedly ban the setting of traps close to well used trails. Many dogs are always present in the Phils Trails area. Trapping has no useful value, commercial or otherwise, and should be banned. It’s a deliberate infliction of cruelty and distress, and has no part in a modern society. Try treating pets, or other animals the same way, and under Oregon Revised Statutes, you’ll have a visit from the Sherrif or other law enforcement, and you’ll find yourself distressed in jail. Trapping is sickening.

Lets make sure we know the laws before we imply that they were broken.

http://www.dfw.state.or.us/resources/hunting/small_game/regulations/docs/Furbearer_Regulations.pdf

Without a doubt this trap was located in a place that violates the “trapper code of ethics” on the above page, but I have not yet seen anything to suggest that the placement was illegal. Regardless of your feelings on the trapping issue, the fact is that concerning the information we have about this incident, the only person who broke any laws was the person who removed the trap.

The area west of Bend is a wild place. There are coyotes, mountain lions, and bears right up to and even within city limits. People hunt and trap in the area and have done so for years. It is the responsibility of each user group to be aware of whom they share access with. Certainly trappers should not be operating on or near busy trails, but it is equally true that hikers, mountain bikers, and dog walkers have a responsibility to be aware of other legitimate uses of public land, and the other humans and wildlife that they share these areas with. Furthermore, trail running, biking, and off leash dog walking are hardly benign activities. The disruption to wildlife in critical mule deer wintering areas near Phil’s trail, Cline Buttes, Horse Ridge, Bessy Butte and various other popular areas is a very real impact to our local wildlife populations, and one that is not nearly as regulated as trapping in Oregon.

For the time being trapping is a legal activity. Whether or not it should be so is another conversation, but whatever else happens that debate needs to be based on factual information, not knee-jerk emotional reactions, misinformation, and finger pointing which I see coming from both sides in the matter. If we are truly concerned about the health and well-being of wildlife, we also need to be honest about the impacts that each of us actually has regardless of our chosen activities on public lands.