Search Trapping Incidents Database

A woman rescued a Red fox that was in a coyote trap. The fox — “a gorgeous adult male weighing 11.6 lbs” — had to have two of his toes surgically removed this afternoon, but he is otherwise ok. Nearby was found a pile of skinned fox carcasses nearby. The trap was illegally set.

A three-week search for a dog caught in a leghold trap ended when local police received a tip that the dog was in a garage at a local residence. The dog, named Holly because the search had extended through the Christmas holidays, had been spotted near the center of town on 12/16/06. Though the leg was not broken, wounds from the prolonged pressure of the trap had penetrated to the bone and could not be repaired. The leg was removed at the shoulder, and a full recovery is expected. At press time the owner of the probably illegal trap had not been indentified.

A leghold trap on National Forest land 25 yards from a road unmaintained in winter that is a popular dog-walking and snow-shoeing and skiing site, Kumo was trapped for 5 minutes. Three trappers run lines along this two mile stretch of popular road, legally using leghold traps and snares.

Pet dog was caught in a trap less than 4 feet off of a trail while trail riding with it’s possessor. About 5 minutes after she was released from the first trap, she was hit in her face by another trap that was triggered. The dog sustained permanent eye damage.

About 100 yards from the parking lot of a popular hiking/biking trail, the sheepdog, Mick, was caught in a leghold trap. While his caregiver was freeing Mick, the terrier came up to see what was going on and was immediately caught in a second leghold trap, and became so terrifed she bit the man trying to free her. The sheepdog had a bruised bone and limped for several weeks; otherwise there was no permanent physical damage. The traps were legal.

A woman had taken her dogs, Harper and Hero for a walk in a leash-free area adjacent to an expressway. Harper walked near a fence a few meters from the walking trail and stuck his head in the trap, which snapped around his neck. The woman was immediately drawn by the dog’s howls, but could not free him. He gasped for air before dying in her arms. The trap was set legally.

While searching for a missing person a desert area near homes and a road, Search and Rescue K9 Hope almost stepped on two side by side engaged leghold traps. This was a close call, as the traps were noticed just in time by the handler before the dog could step on them.

Oneida County, NY — An unnamed dog was caught in a Conibear 220 trap that was legally placed in the Penn Mountain State Forest.

Hunter was caught in a Conibear 220 trap that was unlabeled and 30 feet off a hiking trail at Stone Mountain in the woods. Hunter choked to death within 5 minutes, and it took 15 minutes to hacksaw the trap off. The trap was illegal, set by an unknown poacher.

A woman and her two daughters saw their dog, Meesha, killed by a seven-inch Conibear 220 trap set a short distance from one of the cross-country ski center’s trails.