Two weeks ago, the author of a letter to the editor described the pain and suffering of a domestic dog that stumbled into a leg-hold trap while the owner was cutting firewood on public land north of Ketchum.
This is the second time in as many years that such an incident was recorded. The first occurred in the West Fork of Warm Springs, a popular canyon.
The dogs' owners had no way to know that their pets could be in danger if allowed to roam, and the pets paid the price.
Trapping wild fur-bearers is legal in Idaho, but so is walking a dog in most places on public land. No conscientious dog owner would knowingly release their pet if they knew traps were in the vicinity.
Recently, District 25 legislators held a series of meetings to ask local leaders and constituents what they want from the 2010 session of the Idaho Legislature.
This one's obvious. The lawmakers should draft legislation to require trappers to notify the Idaho Department of Fish and Game about the dates and locations of trapping activities and to provide penalties if they do not.
The law should require Fish and Game to work with other agencies to post warnings on public lands where conflicts between trapping activities and domestic animals—or even children—could occur.
Trappers may object, fearing meddling from people who object to their activities. Nonetheless, there's no justification for forcing others to unknowingly risk injury to dogs from leg-hold traps.
Fish and Game works with other public agencies on winter closures to protect wildlife. Posting warnings of trapping activities to protect the public is only sensible.
