My View, Amy Carotenuto: Protect wildlife from cruel traps
The Florida Wildlife Commission has more power than any other state’s wildlife commission. Many of our laws as they relate to non-domestic animals are written and enforced by FWC. With power comes responsibility.
The last updates to the trapping regulations were made over 50 years ago when Florida’s population was roughly a third of what it is now. Today, raccoons, opossums, fox and more are being considered a “nuisance” by many who may have built houses on what was once “home” to these creatures.
Next week, FWC is considering changes to trapping regulations that will have dire consequences for Florida’s wildlife. Please consider speaking out and ensuring that any regulation changes benefit wildlife.
Thousands of animals die agonizing deaths in traps every year in Florida due to “nuisance” trapping in response to complaints from homeowners. Many people don’t realize that most trappers who respond to complaints regarding nuisance animals are capturing those animals to kill them, not to relocate them. Even animals removed from a property alive in a cage trap are often later killed offsite.
Depending on the type of trap, there can be tremendous pain and suffering. Did you even know that steel jaw leg/foot hold traps are still legal (with a Special Use Permit)? Animals can suffer for hours before being shot or bludgeoned to death. Traps are also indiscriminate – they put non-target animals, including pets and endangered species, at risk.
The proposed regulations expand the use of these cruel traps by removing long-standing requirements to obtain a Special Use Permit. This change will significantly increase the use of these horrific devices across Florida, which will undoubtedly lead to increased pain, suffering and death for any animal that has the misfortune to come across them.
One positive proposed change is the prohibition on the use of glue traps outdoors. A glue trap is one of the most cruel and inhumane methods for killing animals. Depending on what animal becomes mired in the glue, it can take as long as three to five days to die.
There are currently no restrictions on the use of these horrifically cruel and indiscriminate traps. If you send a message to FWC, please ask them to keep the Special Use Permit as a requirement. Also, thank the commission for the proposed change to eliminate glue traps. It always helps to be respectful in your comments and keep your asks productive.
Unfortunately, your comments are likely to be ignored if you simply ask that Florida bans all trapping. The best way to help these animals is to keep your asks specific to this rule making and be polite.
The FWC will present its changes at their Nov. 6 meeting in Belle Glade. Please check Florida Wildlife Commission’s website, myfwc.com, and submit a comment through the online comment portal by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, and send a copy to each member of the commission (you can copy them all into one email): Sonya.Rood@myfwc.com, Albert.Maury@myfwc.com, Rodney.Barreto@myfwc.com, Steven.Hudson@myfwc.com, Preston.Farrior@myfwc.com, Gary.Lester@myfwc.com Joshua.Kellam@myfwc.com.
Amy Carotenuto is the Executive Director of Flagler Humane Society.