We feel the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission should ban muskrat trapping and hunting in our small park and wildlife preserve, Mill Creek Marsh in Secaucus NJ, which is scheduled to begin November 15th through March 15.
Over the past few years we have seen a drastic decline in the number of muskrat sightings in our park and eye witness have reported hunters drowning hundreds of muskrats in underwater traps in years prior to sell the fur overseas. These creatures are full of personality and facinating to watch and used to be seen swimming in the water industriously building their nest from weeds throughout the park, now they are rarely spotted. They are also an important food source for many Birds of Prey and foxes and losing the population upsets the ecological balance of wildlife in our park. In addition, people and families who visit the park to enjoy wildlife have to endure the gruesome sight of hunters dragging off the traps with muskrat gasping their last breaths before being turned into fur pelts.
We feel the hunting season overall has a negative impact on the apx 209 acre park and there and many other wetland areas hunters are free to trap in as an alternative if they choose to.
Thank you for your support!
