Feb. 2, 2010 – In early December, State Delegates from Montgomery County, backed by several animal activist organizations, announced plans
to introduce legislation in the 2010 Maryland General Assembly to ban the so-called \”leghold\” and body-gripping traps in Montgomery County. The Delegation will soon vote to advance its bill, MC 16-10 to the full General Assembly.
The Maryland Fur Trappers, Inc. (MFTI), the umbrella organization for the state’s practitioners of fur trapping and animal control, is seeking support in opposing the legislative threat to their livelihoods and to public safety. MFTI’s message is that if the legislation is passed in one jurisdiction, others could follow the precedent. If trapping were to be restricted, it could pave the way to increased animal/human conflicts, danger to livestock and affect the cultural diversity that is the cornerstone of Maryland’s foundation. MFTI wants the public to know that the positive role of trapping is beneficial to the environment and to the sustainability of many species of wildlife.
MFTI President, Ron Leggett, said, \”It’s easy for opponents of fur trapping to advance an emotional plea against the practice. The benefits of fur trapping are misunderstood by many in the modern age. Most Marylanders are unaware of the protections afforded to them by trappers and wildlife control agents.\” Leggett also stated, \”Detractors refuse to consider the facts about trapping and its methods and wage unrelenting campaigns using \”compassionate\” messages, with no real proof to back up their claims, to garner support from the uninformed majority of urbanized citizens.\”
ü QUICK FACT: Nearly 8000 Individual Furbearer Permits and 300 Wildlife Damage Control Operator Permits are issued in Maryland annually.
This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.