Trapping bylaws possible but impractical, says head of Labrador hunting association
A town bylaw preventing traps from being set inside Happy Valley-Goose Bay boundaries would be impractical, says the head of the local hunting association.
With 312 square kilometres of land within the town's limits, Tony Chubbs, president of the Labrador Hunting and Fishing Association, said a ban would be a major drain on enforcement officers in the area.
"A lot of people snare in these areas and a lot of wildlife is harvested in these areas. If you had a bylaw that prevented that, it would certainly have a huge impact on a lot of people."
While the Wildlife Act limits hunters from discharging firearms within 300 metres of homes and 1,000 metres of schools, no provincial or municipal laws exist limiting snares, said Chubbs.
A Happy Valley-Goose Bay family is advocating for change after their dog, Doug, recently died after getting caught in a fox snare set only metres off a town road.
Dog owner Jaclyn Penney would like to see a ban on trapping near residential zones.
Chubbs said that is a possibility, along with marking snares like hunters do with bear traps. However, both changes would be difficult to enact and enforce.
"If it was a regulation or bylaw, it would be pretty much impractical in a lot of areas."
Instead, Chubbs said pet owners should be prepared by carrying cable cutters and keep their animals on leashes while in the woods.
"It's always a risk, when you're out in a wilderness area, to have your dog untethered," he said. "These are very tragic incidents, but I think it could have been prevented if these pets were tethered."
