To get things in prospective. The law suit was ruled that the DP trap is not a Steel jawed leg hold and that the Fish and Wildlife council has the authority to adopt this trap as a replacement for the Leg hold. That is good but the war is still not over. The senate can still act on the SCR11 and place the DP trap into the banned category. We need to keep telling the Senate committee and the senate floor in a respectful way that we want them to look at science and facts on the DP trap. To seek real information and council on the trap from the authorities like Fish and Wildlife, BMP’s for examples. To look at the fact that with just one season the DP trap increased the raccoon take by 5000 raccoons, with low fur prices, and NO negative impact on pets, livestock or humans. This is important for NJ as we are on the edge of another rabies outbreak. right now, our numbers are back to the late 80's numbers. If we hit the 90's numbers, the pockets of rabies will go state wide again like it did in the 1990. This tool can increase the raccoon catch with more efficiently with less non-targets catches with a higher social acceptance once folks see the trap. We need to show that the DP trap does not cause the damage and animals can be released when set properly. The trap is a for the most part a species-specific trap for raccoons and opossums, Non-targets such as dog will not be caught by the pull system. the DP trap is not a steel jawed foot trap. The trap is the best tool to control the raccoons in the state of NJ with the least amount of negative problems.
We need to stay on facts when writing emails. for some reason phone calls, may not be documented correctly we are advising folks to call but e mails are important. When you email, please BCC the email to njfedtrap@gmail.com so we can have a record of the emails being sent.