TRAPPING OPOSSUMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21853, 16 July 1934, Page 6

TRAPPING OPOSSUMS

question of cruelty DISCUSSION IN THE SOUTH An allegation that cruelty was involved in the use of steel traps for "" catching opossums was discussed at a recent meeting of the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The secretary, Mr. G. T. Bullock, stated that a letter had been written to the Press, and that the opinion of the society was sought. The meeting passed a resolution expressing opposition to the use of the steel-jawed trap for trapping animals, and also a desire for the introduction of any humane method of taking the animals. Mrs. A. L. Millington said that as long as steel traps were used there must be 'cruelty. She asked if the traps could be visited more often. Mr. Bullock remarked that there would be great difficulty in doing this in the back country. - "It is not the first time," said the chairman, Mr. R. Wilson, "that the society has discussed opo.ssum trapping, and it seems that it is hard to patent a trap that will kill without suffering." Mrs. Millington said that, during her school visits, she had asked boys " with inventive genius if they could design a suitable trap, but so far there had been no results. USE 07 RIPLES SUGGESTED REPORT TO BE OBTAINED A request,that the Wellington Acclimatisation Society jzive consideration to the matter of allowing trappers to carry a .22 rifle for the purpose of killing opossumß. as it was considered that a great deal of unnecessary cruelty was caused when animals were killed by means other than shooting. has been made to the society by the Wellington Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. It was decided to refer the matter to the head ranger for a report on the practicability of the suggestion, The acting-chairman. Mr. R. H. Nimnio, said the executive was in sympathy with the request. The present method of killing opossums was to hit them on the head with a piece of wood. It was a "hit and miss" method, and cruel method, though an opossum might be despatched in one blow by an experienced trapper. A difficulty was that the Forestry Department did not permit / rifleß to be carried in the forests. Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp said the difficulty was that once trappers had a pea-rifle thev were prone to kill birds. Mr. J. Brassell said an experienced trapper had told him recently that the only way to get a clean skin was to hit the animal on the head and bleed it.