Tuesday, March 13, 2012

City Passes On New Trap Bylaw

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM  Tuesday, 13 March 2012 02:28  
Several dozen people wrote to the city wanting a new bylaw banning body gripping wildlife traps in Vernon, but council has gone in a different direction. Councillor Juliette Cunningham says they will ask the Union of BC Municipalities to push for a provincial bylaw better defining who can --or can't buy--leg-hold and conibear traps. She tells KISS FM, "That would be consistent with the provincial regulations. On your own private property, if there's nuisance animal you are supposed to contact a licensed trapper to deal with it, but yet anybody can go buy a trap right now." Councillor Patrick Nicol says it's a big concern that not everyone knows how to use them safely. "There should be some qualification for people, not just to be able to pick them up (buy them) and put them anywhere they want, and for that to take place, you have to go through the province." Council was told by the BC Trappers Association and the BC Conservation Service, a new city bylaw wasn't needed as it would just duplicate existing provincial policy.

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