Dog owners beware during winter trapping season
Jim Magowan/Turnagain Times
Kyle Smith at Sportsman's Warehouse shows a 7 inch trap permitted in Chugach State Park, alongside a larger trap often used for/beaver by trappers. Keeping dogs on leashes in high risk areas can avert the tragedy and heartache of losing a pet that is caught in a trap. When it can be done safely, it may help to have leashes attached, even when not held, so they can be grabbed quickly when necessary.
By Jim Magowan
Turnagain Times Correspondent
Chugach State Park is a multi-use park. Multiple uses can add hazards for some users. Hunting and trapping are permitted in the park. This creates hazards such as a dog being caught in a trap, but measures can be taken by dog owners to avoid traps and take your dog safely into the backcountry, especially during the winter time.
At its March 2009 meeting, the Alaska Board of Game reinstated a ban on wolverine trapping in Chugach State Park based not only on concern about the impact of trapping on the small wolverine population in Game Management Unit 14C, which includes the park.
A 2008 survey, described by Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists Earl Becker and Todd Rinaldi as “the best wolverine survey ever done in Alaska and probably the second best wolverine study done anywhere in the world,” found a total of about 20 wolverines in 14C, but also concern about dogs getting caught in wolverine traps.
“Rules and regulations may reduce but cannot eliminate the risk of a dog being caught in a trap, in a multiple use park,” said Chugach State Park Superintendent Tom Harrison. “Ultimately the dog owner must protect the dog. We have actually seen dog owners take the leash off a dog right in front of a sign warning of trapping in the area.”
Jim Magowan/Turnagain Times
Dogs are no dummies. Deep trails packed by hikers, skiers and snowshoers are a lot easer than wading through four foot deep powder, especially for smaller breeds. By taking, literally, the path of least resistance, dogs make it much easier to control them and keep them out of trouble: unless the path was made by a trapper.
Online bloggers and letter writer have questioned the policy of permitting trapping and hunting in the park.
“The Division of Parks has no control over whether these activities are allowed in the park,” said Harrison, “The statute says the park is open to recreational uses. Hunting and trapping are recreational uses. The Board of Game regulates hunting and trapping. What we can regulate is that these activities be conducted in a reasonably safe manner.”
Trapping regulations in the park now prohibit using killer traps with greater than a seven inch wide jaw. Dogs are far less likely to be caught in this size trap than they would be in a larger trap.
“The larger traps are commonly used for animals such as beaver,” said Kyle Smith, who works at the Sportsman's Warehouse.
Smith displayed the different sizes of killer traps and demonstrated how they work.
“For the average person working alone without this special tool used to open these traps, it would be almost impossible to release a trap to get a dog out of it,” said Smith as he demonstrated the need for the tool.
Even in the store without bulky clothes, soft snow and a struggling dog, it was easy to see that for an inexperienced person, how opening the trap, even with the tool, would be difficult.
Regulations require that all traps in the park have tags identifying the owner unless signs are posted with the same information but, as Harrison pointed out, “A tag on a trap does not protect a dog. Neither does a sign if the owner ignores it.”
Harrison said that while rules now require all trappers trapping in Chugach State Park to register with the park, the rule is relatively recent and some trappers are not yet aware of it.
Trapping is prohibited within 50yards of a trail and within one quarter of a mile of a trailhead. This does not guarantee that it is safe to permit dogs to run loose within 50 yards of a trail. There have been instances of people not following the rules.
Professional trappers know better and do not want to trap near trails,” said Harrison, “This problem usually involves inexperienced trappers.”
As Harrison pointed out, owners who hike in the park with their dogs are the last and most important protection for the dogs. The possibility of injury or worse cannot be eliminated, but dog owners can greatly reduce the likelihood of their pets being caught in a trap.
When a sign is posted warning of traps in the area, it is not safe to let a dog run loose. The signs are supposed to be within 50 yards of the traps. Dogs should be leashed or kept close until you are a safe distance from the trapping area. Also, keep in mind that even with the restriction on trap size, dogs might still be injured and there is still significant risk to smaller dogs.
Watch for signs of trapping. If you see a trap or it looks like traps may have been set in an area, be safe, leash your dog.
Whenever possible check with park officials about trappers who have registered, and find out where they will be trapping.
Because some trappers may not have registered and trappers are not restricted to specific areas, do not assume that an area is not being trapped even if registered trappers have not mentioned it.
Part of Unit 14C is not in Chugach State Park. 14C also includes parts of Chugach National Forest, such as Turnagain Pass and Portage that are popular for hiking with dogs. The rules for Chugach State Park do not necessarily apply to the U.S. Forest area, so safe owner behavior is even more important outside of the park.
Keep dogs on leashes when hiking or skiing in areas where trapping is allowed.
