Dog owners should be aware that bobcat and fisher season opened Saturday morning. It won't close until early January. Some trappers recklessly use killer traps (AKA body grip traps) on the ground for those animals. The traps are normally baited with meat or even dog food. They will kill your dog within minutes and most people are not strong enough to remove the trap.
The trap is designed to strike the throat of the animal with 90 pounds pressure crushing the windpipe and the arteries that feed the brain. Death is almost certain and comes within a couple of minutes.
Our legislators have been unwilling to slightly inconvenience the trappers by requiring them to check their traps daily no matter how many dogs are killed each trapping season. The trapper's associations have fought against sensible trapping regulations that respect other outdoor groups who also use our woods. Our nonprofit and the Minnesota DNR have records of 70 dogs killed in this type of trap. Those are only the dog deaths that have been recorded. Reporting is voluntary, and many more dogs simply disappear and leave no record.
The recent news story of the dog on Highway 371 with a trap clamped on its face is a grim reminder of how a minority of Minnesotans have claimed the outdoors for their exclusive use.
Dog deaths in District 10 rank among the highest in Minnesota. The solution is simple and proven effective.
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Our legislators need to step up and do their job.
John Reynolds
Merrifield
