TRAPPING: Public opinion ignored

I attended the meeting at Templin’s regarding trapping in the Panhandle and agree with Mr. Nolthenius.

I find it interesting that while the majority of comments were against trapping, our concerns were, in effect, ignored. Naturally, the decision was not handed down at the meeting, knowing how we attendees would probably have reacted!

Cogent points were presented:

• With Idaho being blessed with more wilderness than just about any other state, why can’t trappers be mandated to areas that are NOT HIKING AREAS for people and their pets? This would still leave thousands of acres for these individuals to set their killing machines.

• Why can’t signs be posted alerting hikers to area trapping? The last I heard animals still cannot read. On this point, I do suspect that more than a few of us would take it upon ourselves to spring the traps as a public service, saving pets from their jaws of death.

• I venture to say that even if the brochures on how to release a pet from a trap were available at the trailhead few of us would venture there. The prospect is chilling. The pet would likely be killed immediately. I’m kind of surprised the trappers don’t offer to skin our pets for us as long as they have killed them. What a deal!

• I’ve encountered bow hunters on the English Point Trail who said they had every right to be there hunting. Wonderful. So if an errant arrow misses its mark and slams into my back I guess that is just considered an unfortunate accident. I should have known it was hunting season and stayed off the trail.

Plenty of other points could be made but we learned they wouldn’t make any difference anyway. So much for taking and considering public input. Their decision was made before the meeting even began.

KATHERINE von HAGEN

Coeur d’Alene