Does WS keep male and female ratios?

One may suspect the female take over the summer would be higher, simply because of the enhanced habItat, meaning the beaver ponds where WS is working. They Seem to be better places to live and to rise the young. Whereas males wander in my estimations.

It would be some interesting information to review.

It would be interesting to know what steps, if any, they are taking to avoid them.


Do they ever target otter

That is a question that would be good to ask. I don’t remember seeing the answer. Your logic makes sense. But do we need to give them credit for all the otters they save by eliminating the beaver and reducing all that trapping pressure in the future by making those miles beaver free?

I will say your question highlights the importance of having someone that questions everything in the meetings. Sure it makes the meeting longer, but that is what your stakeholders have you there for. Represent their interests. If you get a chance, ask Arnie to ask the question..

They are trapping beaver to preserve trout habitat, no? I'm sure otter eat trout, so maybe they don't care about avoiding otter.

I heard the only way you can avoid them is to catch something else quicker or just not set a trap. That said, I know they did a trigger study and found that didn’t help with avoidance. In addition, it looks like they are starting with pretty inexperienced trappers based on the meeting minutes and having to train.

I don’t see any mention of targeting otter, but it wouldn’t surprise me.

They have diversified from only doing trout work. Killing lots more for local towns/counties/highway/railroads etc.

As a fur trapper, the reality of this is a stretch. WS takes otter largely because they stay longer with intentions to eliminate the beaver. This is a recipe for incidentals by design.

Fur trappers move more frequently greatly reducing incidentals risks Taking off the cream and leaving when times get tough. We don’t need every beaver and time management moves us along. When the colony is full beaver will fill the traps. Full traps don’t take incidentals, empty traps do. And longer you hang out the better your chances.

Lastly when WS flushes out these streams do you believe they are improving furbearer or waterfowl habitat? Some trout fishermen question the value of the trout enhancements.

Reaching this quota and closing our season has exposed how complicated a wildlife model can be and the many layers that influence it. As trappers or primary stakeholders, I believe we have a responsibility to peel off the layers and see what falls out.

WS is the low hanging fruit and their “acceptable?” actions appear unacceptable as they influence quotas and deny opportunity. This has become a problem, what’s the solution?

Follow the example on otter for beaver. Make them a trophy. Limit the folks that can trap them. Watch them explode and find a way to get folks to want and catch their two no matter the market conditions.

Yeah that way APHIS can hire more trappers to control the problem. You know, the salaries we trappers pay with our taxes and buy their equipment with our taxes, and pay to trap our municipalities with our taxes. Sounds like another excellent idea.

The problem I’m referring too is reaching the quota, with unwelcome help. So that said perhaps their methods need greater scrutiny? Should causing incidentals waste be held to a higher standard? Say 1:100?

So here Is the # FOR the USDA director.

Office # 608 837-2727
His name Is Dan Hirchert.

Cal him and get his side of the otter issue. Then call our Furbearer Biologist and get his side.

What should be asked ?

How come you get 150 otter when everyone else gets 2?

Why is it the free trapper gets his balls busted for catching otter out of season yet WS takes 150?

With the current assignment, I am not sure that is possible unless one is practicing catch and release. You and 49er going to provide trainings on how to accomplish?

Alright then WS live trap, thanks for offering an alternative and solving the problem.

For starters leave the body grips home. And attentive selection of trap sites. It’s doable, inconvenient but doable.

Inconvenience is synonymous with otter.

I wonder if the USDA numbers are accurate. Is it possible some of their otter don't get reported by their individual trappers? Do their trappers get frowned upon by their supervisors when they start catching too many? Just a thought.

If we only knew. Put people in a compromising position.

Higher quota would likely add some clarity. Attitude change might help too.

I tend to believe they report vast majority. Any missed likely come from paperwork issue versus not being truthful. If anyone took the time to read the meeting minutes, one of their agents reported a dog incidental.

I can guarantee that caused some more training to happen, but I don’t think it makes them less likely to report.