Major Court Victory for Sportsmen in Maine !

Court of Appeals Upholds Major Sportsmen’s Victory in Maine

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and Leading Trapping Groups
Win Again in Precedent Setting Case

(Columbus) – Trappers in Maine and sportsmen nationwide scored a huge victory after a Federal Court of Appeals rejected an effort from anti-hunting groups seeking to use the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to stop trapping in the state. This decision reaffirms a lower court decision that set a precedent against manipulation of the ESA to stop hunting, fishing, and trapping.

“We are ecstatic and relieved that this lawsuit is no longer a threat to our lifestyle as we prepare to open the 2010 trapping season,” said Skip Trask of the Maine Trappers Association. “The Maine Trappers Association couldn’t be happier with this decision. It is much more than just a victory for Maine. This decision will help protect all trapping and other sports from coast to coast. We appreciate the support and guidance of the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance Foundation (USSAF) legal team and all of our partners.”

The anti-hunting groups had originally filed the suit in 2008 against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. They had argued that Maine’s trapping regulations provided insufficient protection for the Canada lynx, a species listed as threatened under the ESA, and thus required the season to be stopped.

The USSAF, along with the Maine Trappers’ Association, Fur Takers of America, National Trappers’ Association, and several individual sportsmen, intervened in the case on behalf of the state. The groups argued that those seeking to shut down an entire season of trapping (or hunting or fishing) must not only prove the incidental take of an ESA-protected species, but also “irreparable harm” to the population.

In the initial lower court decision, Judge Woodcock concluded that the take of individual members of a reasonably numerous protected species does not necessarily meet the requirement of irreparable harm. He also indicated that the take of lynx occurring in Maine foothold traps, typically catch-and-release incidents, did not constitute irreparable harm in this case. Consequently, Judge Woodcock declined the injunction and the trapping season was able to take place.

Unhappy with the result, the anti-hunting groups filed an appeal in December, 2009 seeking to reverse Judge Woodcock’s decision. The USSAF and the others immediately filed legal briefs in order to defend the major legal victory.

In the unanimous opinion rejecting the appeal, Chief Judge Lynch affirmed Judge Woodcock’s findings that the plaintiffs’ failed to demonstrate the irreparable harm necessary for an injunction. Judge Lynch then went on to criticize the plaintiffs’ last-minute request for lesser sanctions restricting trapping. In the lower court, Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) expressly refused that option and instead pursued a full ban on trapping.

“It may well have done so for tactical reasons, preferring to stress the inadequacy of other remedies in order to strengthen its case for injunctive relief against foothold traps,” wrote Lynch. “Parties are held to their choices and AWI's bait and switch tactics in the courts are to be deplored, not rewarded.”

The latest decision should assist in the defense of any further lawsuits by anti-trappers. It leaves the plaintiffs in this case with few options other than a petition to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. The Supreme Court agrees to consider only a few dozen cases a year out of the many hundreds of cases filed with it each year.

“It was clear all along that anti-hunters were looking to set a precedent that could be used in state after state to shut down not only trapping, but hunting and fishing as well,” said Bud Pidgeon, USSAF president and CEO. “With this strong decision, antis are going to have a far more difficult time doing this.”

About the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing, trapping, and shooting – that generate the money to pay for them. The Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible.

About the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org. 
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ICWDM Creating NWCO Training Manual

The ICWDM has drafted a NWCO Training manual to provide training and meet license requirements by companies and states. 

We are looking for individuals who are interested in review some or all of the chapters.  Here is a list. 

NWCO Training Modules 
1.       Principles of Wildlife Damage Management – Introduction to principles, definition of concepts, best practices concepts,. 
2.       Physical Safety - The section on physical safety (like ladder safety) and expand on details related to working in the field dealing with animal capture and certain control techniques. 
3.       Wildlife Diseases – We discuss personal safety, personal protection equipment, common diseases, and the meaning and problems of zoonotic diseases. 
4.       Site Inspection – The process and theory of onsite investigation of wildlife damage complaints. 
5.       Overview of wildlife control methods - The overview of control methods prepares technicians for the control techniques they fill find in the species specific information. 
6.       Animal Handling—Treatment and capture of free-ranging and trapped animals. . 
7.       Euthanasia & Carcass Disposal—Killing methods and options for the disposition of carcasses.
8.       Business Practices – Overview of standard business practices. This is NOT a how to run you business. 
9.       Legal and Ethical Issues –  The importance of following federal, state and local laws. Demonstration of values, business and personal ethics, the ethical treatment of wildlife (animals in general) in the media. 

Species Modules 
        Raccoon 
        Skunk 
        Bat 
        Beaver 
        Squirrels 

Reviewers should be 
a. experienced wildlife control operators (more than 3 years). CWCPs are particularly wanted. 
b. comfortable with Microsoft Word and able to use the Track Changes Function, 
c. willing to provide edits (both deleting and adding content), 
d.  able to return the chapters within 7 days of receipt. 
e. those willing to provide additional photo support would be most welcomed. 

All reviewers will be acknowledged (if they wish) in the relevant chapters and a free copy of the book when it is published. 

If you are interested in helping, please send an e-mail to 
Svantassel2@unl.edu  stating 
a. which chapters you wish to review. 
b. your qualifications 
c. date when the edited documents will be returned. 

Questions can be submitted via e-mail or by calling 402-472-8961  central time. 

--
Alan A. Huot, President
Wildlife Control Supplies

P.O. Box 538
East Granby, CT 06026
860-844-0101   860-413-9831 (FAX)

www.wildlifecontrolsupplies.com
"Products for Professionals"

Follow My Blog: http://wildlifecontrolsupplies.blogspot.com/

Earthcare's Odor Removing Bags

EarthCares' Odor Removing Bag is used by Wildlife/Pest Control Professionals to remove dead rodent odors, urine and feces odors, skunk odors, as well as odors from chemicals, cigarette smoke, and Earth Care Bags do not have to come into contact with dead rodent or odor causing agent. Simply place the bag near the odor and in 24 hours the odor will be gone. Watch a customer testimonial below:

NPMA Nuisance Bird & Wildlife Conference

The NPMA Nuisance Bird & Wildlife Conference will be held at the Westin Indianapolis from Nov. 17 - 19. Below are the educational sessions which are planned.

Educational Sessions
What Are the Hot Issues Right Now?
Panel Discussion: Birds in Big Box Stores
NWCOA Credentialing Program
Don't Let Woody Woodpecker Laugh at Your Customers
Groundhogs, Skunks and Raccoons - None as Cunning as the Fox, But...
Small Birds in Vents
Managing Burrowing Rodents
Effectively Marketing Your Company's Bird Management Services
Snake Control
Bat Management
Beaver Control
Insect Infestations Associated with Wildlife
Humane Wildlife Control
The Benefits & Pitfalls of Relocation
Regulatory Issues
Integrating Technology Into Your Nuisance Wildlife Operation

Waxing Traps - The Final Step in Trap Preparation

If you've decided upon Dyeing & Waxing as your process of choice for preparing your traps for the season, then waxing is the final step in that chain.

As the name implies, WAXING is dipping your traps, either in bunches or singularly into a pot of molten trap wax. There is an old wives tale that almost has the same status as "rodents go outside to die after eating anticoagulant baits" that you should FLOAT your wax on top of boiling water and then pull your traps through the molten wax...this results in an undesirable and unsatisfactory wax coating on your traps. You will save money on wax, but suffer on quality. You get what you pay for !!

Here is my simple wax setup. A 20lb. propane cylinder and a camp stove I bought at a tag sale at least 20 years ago. The pot that I keep my wax in is of the same vintage and your wax can be used from year to year, just add more trap wax as time goes on.
Notice I'm waxing my traps outside.....out of the house or building...CAUTION: The melted wax is HOT and flammable, if you happen to get your wax too HOT and it ignites you don't want it in your house. I know people who didn't heed this warning and have burned their garage down.

So you start by setting up your heat source outside. Your wax pot has a solid block of wax in it if it was previously used or if this is your first time waxing traps be sure to purchase enough trap wax to completely submerge the traps you'd like to have treated. On a low flame you melt your wax slowly, for the pot in the picture this takes approx. 2.5 - 3hrs. to fully melt the wax. YOU WANT THE WAX HOT, BUT NOT BOILING. If the wax gets too hot and starts to bubble, move it slightly off the flame until it cools down slightly.

Using a metal hook, and wearing gloves, I lower each of my previously boiled traps into the molten wax. THIS NEXT STATEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT .... YOU LEAVE THE TRAPS IN THE WAX UNTIL THEY BECOME AS HOT AS THE WAX ITSELF. Usually 7 - 10 minutes. Then using your metal hook you lift each trap slowly out of the wax. Notice the drip rings in the wax, the wax should run off your trap like water.

Then move away from your wax pot and give the trap several good shakes to get any excess liquid wax off your trap. Hang the trap up to cool and in several minutes will be cool to the touch. The end result will be a trap with a light coating of wax that will not flake or chip off, and will give you the protection and durability you're looking for.

Waxing Traps - The Final Step in Trap Preparation

If you've decided upon Dyeing & Waxing as your process of choice for preparing your traps for the season, then waxing is the final step in that chain.

As the name implies, WAXING is dipping your traps, either in bunches or singularly into a pot of molten trap wax. There is an old wives tale that almost has the same status as "rodents go outside to die after eating anticoagulant baits" that you should FLOAT your wax on top of boiling water and then pull your traps through the molten wax...this results in an undesirable and unsatisfactory wax coating on your traps. You will save money on wax, but suffer on quality. You get what you pay for !!

Here is my simple wax setup. A 20lb. propane cylinder and a camp stove I bought at a tag sale at least 20 years ago. The pot that I keep my wax in is of the same vintage and your wax can be used from year to year, just add more trap wax as time goes on.
Notice I'm waxing my traps outside.....out of the house or building...CAUTION:

Boiling Traps

Weather was perfect, on the cool side, not much wind. I decided to boil my traps in preparation for a predator control project later next month. Some would consider this old-fashioned, boiling traps in logwood trap dye to turn them black and inhibits (at least in a small way) further rusting of your traps. The logwood trap dye turns your traps a deep blue-black color. Others choose to simply dip their traps in a petroleum based product which when dried leaves a shiny black latex coating on the trap. I use the faster DIP process for bodygripping traps but still prefer the age old dyeing and waxing process for my foothold traps.

In my younger days I used to have a spot out in the woods where I built a wood fire which I tended all day and used a 30 gallon barrel to boil all my traps. Now I opt for the faster and somewhat simpler propane method. As you can see nothing fancy, I just use a mop bucket filled with water and a 20lb. propane cylinder. To block the wind I use whatever is available, in this case some old desk drawers. I get the water to a rolling boil and add the red or black logwood powder, approx. 1 lb. per 5 gallons of water. I then place the traps in the water and leave each batch of traps approx. 30 - 45 minutes until they are a deep blue-black color. Then using a metal hook (watch it they're HOT)I hang each trap up to dry.

And lets not forget that tell-tale smell of Fall .....the smell of a logwood trap dye boiling in the pot !! :-)