Trapping Still Going Strong in Pennsylvania

From the Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune:

Deer and turkey hunting seasons get most of the attention, but few realize the trapping industry is alive and well in Pennsylvania. In 2004, Pennsylvania sold 24,094 furtaker licenses, up from 1999 when 17,604 were sold.

While the sport provides enough financial return to just about cover the trapper’s expenses, they do a far more important job keeping the state’s furbearer population in check.

“Residents who think nuisance wildlife problems are bad now can’t begin to imagine how bad they’d get if these individuals weren’t removing some of the surplus furbearers our state produces annually,” Vern Ross, Game Commission Executive Director, said.

“Trappers help reduce the number of furbearers that spread rabies, stalk pets, prey on livestock, raid garbage cans, flood rural roadways, and cause crop-damage,” Ross said. “Each year, they annually remove thousands of surplus furbearers from fields, forests, waters and suburban areas.

“In the process, they are helping to align furbearer populations with the carrying capacity of the habitat they live in, and reducing the frequency in which residents will encounter these animals — or the damage they can cause to property. It’s a great help to those people who are looking for relief from the troubles caused by nuisance furbearers.”

Generally the trapping season begins around mid-October and lasts through February with special seasons for some species. Prime pelts, ones that bring the most money at the international fur market, are found when animals grow thicker coats as the weather gets colder.

In 2004, the Game-Take Survey that the Game Commission normally conducted was cut due to budget constraints. But in 2003, furtakers took about 105,000 raccoons; 71,500 muskrats; 34,000 opossum; 31,500 red fox; 16,000 gray fox; 6,500 mink; 11,500 coyote and 9,500 skunks. These figures have been relatively stable during the last few years.

Beaver trapping opens Dec. 26 and will continue until sunset March 31. Beaver trappers no longer are required to have their harvested beavers tagged by a Game Commission representative.

Beavers were reintroduced into Pennsylvania in 1917 and, in the last 20 years, they have expanded their range greatly and have substantial populations in our area. In 2003, trappers took 6,757 beavers, up from 4,538 the year before, but down from 2001 when trappers collected 10,934. Variances are greatly influenced by weather conditions, such as ice and heavy snow.

In order for a person to run a trap line in Pennsylvania, he or she must possess a furtaker or combination license. Traps must have an identification tag with owner information and the owner must check each trap every 36 hours.