We are so lucky to have a coalition of experienced, highly capable animal activists working on trapping issues in Clark County. They will negotiate trap boundaries for Clark County. Please contact them: let them know if you can help the effort, to report a companion animal trapping, or with any other trapping-related issue. They are:

Ongoing Talking Points

If we exempt govt. agents, anyone with a permit, private pest control companies, waterways and private property from trap regulations, who, exactly will not be allowed to trap? How would the current situation change at all??

Having said that, it must be said that private pest control companies present the best case. They carry liability insurance. They have ID on their traps. They set proper size traps for limited purposes, for limited periods of time. They have commercial permits, different from untrained householder getting a depredation permit. They can be held accountable for any injuries they cause.

The smallest acceptable distance from a residence for traps to be set is 1000 yards, not feet. We believe this will be accepted. Commissioner Robb recommended it. If logic prevails, the boundaries should be the Firearms Congested Areas of Washoe County with no quibbling over yards or distance from residences. There are maps of the Congested Areas. The Congested Areas grow as our community grows. As we said since the beginning, if one can't discharge a firearm in a congested area, why should one be able to set an indiscriminate dangerous trap?

 ID/registration on each and every trap. TrailSafe has legal reason to believe the Wildlife Commission can set this regulation. They will check with their D.A. I suspect this will be difficult to achieve. Yet how can we even claim traps are regulated unless each trap can be traced to the person who set it? Ideally the Commission will endorse this provision and find a legal way to make it happen.

96-hour trap visitation shortened to 24-hour. Possibly this could be required in congested areas even if not required in rural areas. Likewise, if this has to be a Legislative bill, ideally the Wildlife Commission will introduce and endorse the measure.

Trap permits should be harder to obtain. Current permit process makes no demands on applicants. Anybody can get a trap permit any time. For free. See TrailSafe proposed permit application.We are researching the legal means to this end.

Instead of exemption to use body-gripping traps, TrailSafe recommends NDOW and WS promote non-lethal, humane, co-existence strategies as described on their website. TrailSafe would happily cooperate and assist in public education efforts. Coyotes are the targets for most "nuisance" trapping, therefore there are many strategies for co-existing with coyotes.

Many complain about mice, rats, moles, voles. They claim they need body-gripping traps for these creatures. (Mouse traps are exempt from the trap regulation.) But if coyotes were allowed to live, we would have natural rodent control!!! Let them take their rightful, useful part in nature's design.

TrailSafe does not agree that private property should be exempt from trap regulations. There are too many instances of irresponsible trapping by private property owners. This exemption will not protect public safety. An exemption might make sense for fenced private property but certainly not for unfenced properties. See above for possible exemption of pest control companies. If depredation permits were harder to get, this might be a more palatable exemption. A possible solution to the private property question: property zoned Agricultural will be exempt from trap regulation, but not other private properties.

TrailSafe does not agree that waterways should be exempt. There is massive literature demonstrating humane methods of working with beavers and muskrats. Some of the most horrendous pet trappings caused by body-crushing traps set in waterways. See our incident reports.

The public should have the right to disturb a trap when that trap poses a clear danger to people or companion animals. Not adequately discussed yet.

Any traps set anywhere should be clearly marked so hikers and neighbors can avoid them. Likewise, this needs further discussion.

Trappers to be liable for any damages caused by their actions. Trappers should seek and pay for veterinary help for companion animals caught in their traps. There should be stiff penalties for non-compliance.

Why should any creature suffer when humane, non-lethal management is proven effective and favored by the public. Thousands of Nevadans do not know trapping continues in the 21st Century. When they find out, they object to trapping for humane and public safety reasons.

501.100  Legislative declaration

Nevada Wildlife Law (emphasis mine)
"1. Wildlife in this State not domesticated and in its natural habitat is part of the natural resources
  belonging to the people  of the State of Nevada."

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