Post by Lady Trapper on Jan 21, 2007 13:39:56 GMT -5
Stewards of the Land
The word steward brings to mind a person who has been given the responsibility to manage someone else’s property, not only maintaining it, but even improving it. Trappers are resource stewards, because they are responsible for their traplines on public or private lands. Traplines encourage a sustainable harvest because one person manages an area for his or her own long-term benefit. Trappers observe their traplines through the seasons, work them, and manage them in a way that keeps them productive.
Good land stewardship requires a presence, and the regular presence of trappers in the bush allows them to notice changes first-hand. They are often the first to recognize changes in habitat, the spread of wildlife disease, or the decline in wildlife population numbers. No wildlife conservation agency today has the time or money to mount this level of surveillance in the bush, so trappers play an important role in observing the environment and reporting what they see to conservation authorities. They are experts on the status of furbearer populations in their regions. Registered trappers recognize that trapping is a privilege, not a right. As good stewards, they do the following:
Show care for wildlife by using the most humane trapping methods possible, checking traplines regularly, and avoiding the capture of non-target animals
Selectively trap only a small percentage of furbearer populations
avoid habitat destruction and improve some habitats
Turn carcasses in to wildlife authorities when required or thought necessary, and otherwise recycle them in a natural setting
Participate in biological studies and conservation activities
support trappers’ organizations and other conservation groups
Stay current with new trapping techniques and support the education of novice and seasoned trappers
Abide by all laws and regulations and discourage illegal activity on the part of others.
The word steward brings to mind a person who has been given the responsibility to manage someone else’s property, not only maintaining it, but even improving it. Trappers are resource stewards, because they are responsible for their traplines on public or private lands. Traplines encourage a sustainable harvest because one person manages an area for his or her own long-term benefit. Trappers observe their traplines through the seasons, work them, and manage them in a way that keeps them productive.
Good land stewardship requires a presence, and the regular presence of trappers in the bush allows them to notice changes first-hand. They are often the first to recognize changes in habitat, the spread of wildlife disease, or the decline in wildlife population numbers. No wildlife conservation agency today has the time or money to mount this level of surveillance in the bush, so trappers play an important role in observing the environment and reporting what they see to conservation authorities. They are experts on the status of furbearer populations in their regions. Registered trappers recognize that trapping is a privilege, not a right. As good stewards, they do the following:
Show care for wildlife by using the most humane trapping methods possible, checking traplines regularly, and avoiding the capture of non-target animals
Selectively trap only a small percentage of furbearer populations
avoid habitat destruction and improve some habitats
Turn carcasses in to wildlife authorities when required or thought necessary, and otherwise recycle them in a natural setting
Participate in biological studies and conservation activities
support trappers’ organizations and other conservation groups
Stay current with new trapping techniques and support the education of novice and seasoned trappers
Abide by all laws and regulations and discourage illegal activity on the part of others.