Update: This bill passed and was signed into law by the governor on 5/28/13.
Bill description: Requires the registration of each trap, snare, poisoning device or similar device used in the taking of wild mammals; authorizes the removal or disturbance of a trap, snare, poisoning device or similar device under certain circumstances; requires the marking of a trap, snare, poisoning device or similar device with a warning flag; increases the frequency of required visits for a trap to 24 hours (current requirement is 96 hours).
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Reasons to support this bill include:
- Requires that traps are affixed with owner identification, which can greatly aid law enforcement in identify individuals who are setting traps in violation of state regulations. As evidence of its utility, 40 other states already require trap identification.
- Animals caught in traps for several days may starve, dehydrate, be attacked by other animals, or mangle their mouths and limbs in futile efforts to free themselves. Trappers also catch non-targeted animals, including deer, birds, squirrels, endangered species, cats and dogs; these animals have a much better chance of survival if traps are checked at least once every 24 hours.
- It is well known that, due to their non-selectivity, steel-jawed leghold traps pose a serious hazard to both targeted and non-targeted animals — including family pets. Requiring that traps be marked and allowing traps that pose an obvious risk to people to be removed represent important safety measures.