Studies demonstrate that for every target animal caught in a trap, there are one to 10 non-target animals that fall victim to these devices. Commercial and recreational trapping is not a management tool, given that there are no bag limits and no limits on the number of traps that can be set or of animals that can be killed. Trapping activity is driven by the price of pelts, not by the need to manage wildlife. Game managers do not even have population estimates for species trapped in Oregon. Recreational and commercial trapping with steel traps amounts to random killing of wildlife.
Trapping is pointless as a management activity.
Animals with commercial fur value trapped in Oregon include badger, beaver, bobcat, gray and red foxes, marten, mink, river otter, raccoon and weasel. Compound 1080 and sodium cyanide are poisons deadly to predators and other wildlife and pets. Governor John Kitzhaber has forbid the use of Compound 1080 in Oregon. This ballot measure will place in statute what exists now by executive decree. Dogs and other animals sometimes trigger these indiscriminate devices, resulting in more unnecessary killing.