Trapped by tradition

By Patty Mintz

If Susan Malmstrom and her husband had known about Nova Scotia’s antiquated trapping laws, she says, they would never have moved to Bear River.

Both full-time artists, the two had searched for a peaceful, quiet, rural setting in which to establish a studio.

“That’s why we zeroed in on Bear River. We just loved it,” says Malmstrom, who purchased five acres backing onto woods.

Through friends, however, the couple learned that Nova Scotia’s law books allow trappers to set traps and snares on anyone’s property without permission or knowledge of the property owner. Trappers are also not required to mark the location of the traps or snares that they set.

The couple say the situation not only spoils the enjoyment of their land, it puts them and their visitors at risk of harm.

“It’s so scary. When I first found out, I felt a combination of anger and being scared. I was frightened. It feels like you’ve got landmines around.

“I certainly would now, if someone visits with children, never take them out there.”

Malmstrom is part of a growing movement that wants government to revise the laws governing the setting of traps.

Michael Lewis, who lives in Annapolis County, is among those at the core of the recently formed Trapping Awareness Project, or TRAP.

“For us, the issue is not about the specifics of how trapping occurs, but, more importantly, where it occurs.” Lewis says mountains of feedback is a measure that people want change.

In a recent NovaNewsNow.com poll, 83 per cent responded “yes” to the need for tougher trapping regulations, including landowner permission.

“The anxiety that trappers evoke in landowners and other users of the land is unacceptable. About 1,400 trappers shouldn’t deny us and our families the comfort of safe and secure enjoyment of our own property and our publicly used natural areas for nearly six months of the year,” he says, noting the number of registered trappers in Nova Scotia.

Alec Gingell feels he has good reason to back the TRAP project.

Over the years, he has found a number of heavy duty fox snares on his 75-acre farm in Lunenburg County, including once when his dog got caught in one while walking by his side.

Gingell isn’t sure about all of TRAP’s proposals, but he’s strongly behind the issues of permission, marked traps and liability insurance. Gingell brings up the sticky question of who is liable if someone gets hurt by a trap set on private land without the owner’s knowledge or permission? He believes the Dept. of Natural Resources should be held liable since it is the trappers’ governing body.

Among the list of changes that TRAP proposes is that trappers must receive written permission from landowners to place traps and snares on private property. It wants traps and snares to be marked as a warning to the public and proposes an increase to the safety buffer zone between traps and homes and schools from the current 274 metres to one kilometre. It also wants trappers to carry liability insurance.

Lewis says the group’s efforts are not directed at the practice of trapping and will, in fact, allow trappers ample opportunity to continue with their practice while letting people safely enjoy natural areas, including their own property.

“TRAP is the voice of moderation. We are saying that trappers and the antiquated trapping regulations must change to reflect the sensibilities of the majority of Nova Scotians, both rural and urban, in the 21st Century.”

Minister of Natural Resources David Morse is not so sure.

He met with Dept. of Natural Resources officials and TRAP supporters on March 8 in Halifax. “This is a serious issue because if we were to implement the proposals, I am reasonably confident it would put an end to trapping.”

Morse says similar proposals were put into effect in Massachusetts with negative effects. “There has been an explosion of the wildlife population there. It has not been a success.” He said unchecked wildlife populations act as a deterrent to people who seek green space. “We don’t want to have a Massachusetts in Nova Scotia.”

Morse says he believes if those who are in favour of the changes were aware of the consequences, they might change their mind.

He is prepared to meet with the group again, “But I want them to fully understand what the ramification would be for trapping and controlling wildlife populations in Nova Scotia if we were to accept their recommendations.”

Wendy Kearnes became an outspoken advocate for change after her son and his dog survived encounters with leg-hold traps set on the family’s farm in Tupperville.

“It’s very important to get the message out to everyone in the province. People have to be aware.”

Kearns says she’s shocked by Morse’s claims that making changes will kill trapping.

“That’s not what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to erase trapping as an industry; we’re trying to make trappers accountable.”

She says accountability was nowhere to be seen when she witnessed a box of leg-hold traps sold at an auction in Lawrencetown. When Hearnes raised concerns, she was told the sale was perfectly legal.

“(The buyer) didn’t have to produce any documentation. To think the traps were going into the hands of anyone who could place them anywhere! It’s like handing someone a loaded gun and saying, ‘there you go’.”

She says the incident proves the public needs protection from such outdated legislation.

She also says she believes that an invitation extended to TRAP to meet with trappers for a ‘field day’ to watch a trapping demo and discuss issues and concerns will prove unproductive.

“What a strange invitation. We know what the traps do. We know where they’re being placed and how. We want change.” Kearnes also points out that those involved with TRAP are already well-read on the arguments in favour of allowing trapping as it stands.

Since the family’s brush with disaster, says Kearnes, “We have found more traps on our land since then. We have found traps set around our pond for muskrats. We have found snares on our property that were there before we bought the property 10 years ago and they were never checked.”

Lewis says there is frustration that Morse hasn’t returned e-mail inquiries for nearly a month.

Morse insists he’s doing his best. “I’m trying to be fair to both sides. It is a very difficult issue; one of the most contentious issues with strong points of view on both sides and less opportunity for middle ground.”

Lewis says TRAP has also met with natural resources critics Leo Glavine (Liberal) and Clarrie MacKinnon (NDP), both of whom plan to present the proposals to their respective caucauses for review.

Reached last week by phone, Glavine said the trapping issue is big.

“It’s currently our largest and continuing-to-grow file. I’ve had at least 10 more letters in the last three days,” with the vast majority of the communication in favour of the proposals.

Glavine, who lives on a secondary road in North Kingston, says his belief is, “At this point, we need trapping.”

He says further meetings with key interests are sure to unfold.

“We will take a position. I can guarantee you that.”

In the meantime, trapping awareness supporters say they won’t rest until most Nova Scotians are aware of the issue, including, says Jim Bell of LaHave, “that anyone, even a landowner on their own property, can be charged for tampering with or removing traps and snares.”

Concerned readers can write to TRAP at: trappingawarenessproject@gmail.com, or to Minister of Natural Resources David Morse at: min_dnr@gov.ns.ca .