Video: how to release pet dog from trap

I'll have to check that out. That's been a problem in Alaska, with some unethical trappers placing traps within feet of popular hiking trails. The worst one is called a "Conibear" or something like that and apparently it's NOT intuitive on opening it back up and people's dogs have died while they tried to figure it out.

Yup, that's the trap. Idaho trappers don't have to put up signs or flags and are allowed to trap within 5 feet of the center of a trail.

Since most dog leashes are about 8' —-!

There are also leg hold and wire snares. The snares you may have to cut off with cable cutters,
A leatherman will NOT likely work.

5' from the center of a trail is crazy, I'm shocked that's legal. Even a wandering child (stepping off the trail to go to the bathroom, for instance) could end up in a trap.

The other trap that scares me is the cyanide ones- where it puffs up a cloud of cyanide. I don't think they use them in Alaska, but they do in the lower 48.

Dena,

>"5' from the center of a trail is crazy, I'm shocked that's legal. "

I'm with you on that, but I suspected it was perfectly legal in Alaska. It certainly happens a lot on the Kenai.

I just read through the Alaska trapping requirements and while there is a request to "Act responsibly as a trapper and conservationist by trapping in ways to minimize conflict between trapping and other users, e.g., avoid high recreational use areas. Avoid situations where you might catch a domestic dog or cat, such as near homes or trails frequently used by hikers, skijorers, dog mushers, or other people.", there is not a requirement to do so.

>Even a wandering child (stepping off the trail to go to the bathroom, for instance)"

or a child who goes to investigate why that bird wing is hanging from a tree branch, within reach.

It is actually illegal to REMOVE such traps from public lands.

Trappers are not without ANY constraints. For instance, one may not:

"take furbearers with the use or aid of a machine gun, set gun, or a shotgun larger than 10 gauge"

The other trap that scares me is the cyanide ones- where it puffs up a cloud of cyanide. I don't think they use them in Alaska, but they do in the lower 48.

Now that's a bit disturbing.

I'm curious; what is the civil or criminal liability, if any, should a hiker or child be harmed or killed by a trap?

The response from SOME trappers is "take control of your children" or "keep your dog on a leash".

Same exact responses you get from the other end of the political spectrum when asked about the hazards of wolves, lions etc. and pets or children.

I thought you place trap in water so animal drowns before damaging the pelt or escaping.

Not that dogs don't go in the water, but this would reduce chance.

"I thought you placed traps in water so animal drowns before damaging the pelt or escaping."

Sure, for beaver and muskrat. Possibly for mink – they are almost as aquatic as their cousins, otters.

But wolves, marmot, wolverine, fox, bear, etc, are trapped on dry ground (actually, usually, snowy ground). By snares placed along game trails or under bait secured above a trap.

A leg-hold bear trap is pretty darn big. There are only about 6 of us BPLers who see them for sale at the grocery store.

>"cyanide. . . in the lower 48.

Now that's a bit disturbing."

Friends from Alaska vacationing in Montana, I think (give or take a state – they're all so small down there) had their pet dog eat some poisoned bait while walking along a country road. From the rapid onset of paralysis (the MD on the scene couldn't save him), it sounded like strychnine. It was by the side of the road, presumably laid by a rancher for coyotes and feral dogs.

The 2-year-old "pit/Great Dane cross" encountered the trap about 20 feet off the road, up a deer trail.

"It was the most horrible thing I've ever seen," Miller said. "He was gurgling."

With her father, she tried to release the jaws of the trap from the dog's body, but it wouldn't budge.

"Within 30 seconds, his oxygen was cut off and he was dead,"

The video shows how to use the leash to release the traps. The was a big dog.