While drilling on the Internet for the lastest bobcat trapping statistics for Virginia (I did not find them), I came across a 2005 report that might be of interest to some: "Ownership and Use of Traps by Trappers in the United States in 2004.″This 121-page report was commission by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and has a lot of information in it, including:
- In 2003-2004 there were 103,051 active trappers in the US
- The average trapper used 39 traps per day.
- The average trapper owned 112 foothold traps, 50 bodygrip traps, 3 padded foothold traps, 3 cage traps and 36 snares
- The primary species targeted for trapping was raccoon, followed by red fox, coyote, muskrat, beaver, mink, bobcat and grey fox
- In 2004, 35% of trappers targeted coyote, 35% red fox, 34% muskrat, 25% mink, 17% bobcat, and 14% grey fox.
- 60% of trappers surveyed had been contacted to trap nuisance wildlife
For the record: fox, raccoon, coyote, and beaver populations are at 100-year record numbers in the U.S., and populations of these animals are continuing to grow as they move out beyong their historical ranges. Trapping at current rates has no impact on state or regional wildlife numbers.
- Related Posts:
** Releasing Your Dog From a Trap
** Animals Rights Folks Developed the Dog-lethal Conibear Trap
** Modern Scientific Trapping
Steve - append your email address to the comments here -- I have lost your email address!
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