Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0995
Senate Amendment SA_A_S34 (Senate)

SENATE AMENDMENT' 4 ,; to H.P. 995, Resolution, "JOINT RESOLUTION 
MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE TO EXPEDITE THE 
INCIDENT AL TAKE PERMIT FOR COYOTES" 
Amend the joint resolution by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'JOINT RESOLUTION MEMORIALIZING THE UNITED STATES 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE 
SERVICE TO EXPEDITE THE INCIDENTAL TAKE PERMIT FOR MAINE'S 
TRAPPING PROGRAM' 
Amend the joint resolution by striking everything after the title and inserting the 
following: 
'WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth 
Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the First Regular Session, most 
respectfully present and petition the United States Department of the Interior, United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service as follows: 
WHEREAS, the State of Maine has long been famous for its magnificent 
wilderness and natural beauty and its plentiful game, fish and birds and, with these 
natural riches, Maine is a haven for vacationers, campers, hunters, anglers, outdoor sports 
enthusiasts and recreationists; and 
WHEREAS, Maine has a long and important tradition of trapping and, although 
fewer people make a living from trapping now, it is still an important tradition for many 
of Maine's citizens; and 
WHEREAS, Maine has been involved for many years in the research and 
conservation of Canada lynx and is one of the nation's leaders in the conservation of 
lynx; and 
WHEREAS, deer are widely loved and appreciated by the public and are important 
contributors to the State's economy; and 
WHEREAS, the deer popUlation in areas of northern, eastern and western Maine is 
low and, although there are several interrelated factors that are likely causing low deer 
SENA TE AMENDMENT 
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SENATE AMENDMENT" 
'to H.P. 995, L.D. 0 
numbers, coyote predation is considered an important component of winter deer losses 
and early losses among newborn fawns in summer; and 
WHEREAS, during the decade-long process to obtain an incidental take permit for 
Maine's trapping program, opponents oftrapping have filed 2 lawsuits against the Maine 
Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife alleging Maine was in violation of the 
federal Endangered Species Act because trappers participating in Maine's trapping 
program could incidentally capture Canada lynx in their traps; and 
WHEREAS, this litigation resulted in a court-ordered consent decree that provided 
significant protections to Canada lynx by imposing a number of restrictions on trapping 
activities conducted in northern, eastern and western Maine. The consent decree and its 
restrictions on types, size and location of foothold and killer-type traps in northern, 
eastern and western Maine remain in effect unless and until the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service acts favorably on Maine's application for an incidental take permit; and 
WHEREAS, Maine's Game Plan for deer identifies a number of strategies to 
rebuild Maine's diminished deer population in northern, eastern and western Maine, 
including working with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to obtain an 
incidental take permit for Maine's trapping program; now, therefore, be it 
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that the 
United States Department of the Interior, United States Fish and Wildlife Service make 
its highest priority in Maine the process, publication for public comment and issuance of 
an incidental take pennit for Maine's trapping program; and be it further 
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the 
Secretary of State, be transmitted to the United States Department of the Interior, United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service and to each Member of the Maine Congressional 
Delegation. ' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the title of the resolution by referring to Maine's trapping 
program, rather than focusing on coyotes only. It changes the same focus in the body of 
the resolution and clarifies how receiving an . cidental take pennit will help the State. 
SPONSORED BY: 
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COUNTY: Kennebec 
SENATE AMENDMENT