TRAPPING METHODS

Evening Post, Issue 149, 20 December 1935, Page 3

TRAPPING METHODS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Recently we have been reading in the papers and hearing over the air a lot about the; method by which opossums and rabbits are trapped and killed. First, we would like ,-the pub--*, lie to know that the method of trapping opossums is'not so cruel as some people would have you believe, for 'it is very seldom-that you find can opossum in the trap'with a broken leg or other* wise damaged; more often than not they are asleep in the trap. The method of. dispatch used by experienced trappers is sudden- and painless, which is more than can be said for the killing of sheep, pigs, and bobby calves. We are in favour of a humane trap if it will work, but-we do not want a trap that will cost more than its worth to buy and upkeep, or one that will need an educated opossum to step into it. Mention has also been made of the number of native birds caught in the traps, but nothing has been said about the weasels, stoats, rats, and wildl cats which are caught and destroyed by the trapper, and as for the native birds caught—well, we are, out to trap opossums and set traps accordingly, and it is only by the merest chance that a bird of any description is caught. Regarding rabbits, a rabbit trapper goes round his traps in the evening and also early in the morning; the rabbits are quickly dispatched and not allowed to stay in the traps longer than necessary. No one has yet been able to perfect a: humane trap foe rabbits, so the society has decided to send to England; for advice regarding humane methods of trapping and killing rabbits/ If the society studied the effect of different poisons and fumigators on rabbits,. we are sure they would agree that trapping as done now is the more1 humane, method. In conclusion we would like to remind the parties interested that trapping is «nly short seasonal work, and it is hard, strenuous work at best and the money made by the trappers hard earned. If the trapper is asked to lay out more money on>new humane traps and patent killing gadgets, we are sure the Government and the society will lost a lot of revenue as it will put a lot of trappers out of business.—l am, etc., E. A. BRISCOE. President Wellington Fur-Trappers' As. sociation. . ■ , ■