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We, the Undersigned, endorse the following petition:

Please Ban Leg-Trapping of Bobcats in Iowa

Target: Jeffrey Vonk, Liz Christiansen, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Sponsor: Iowa Citizens and abroad Against Cruel Leg Traps
  • Signatures: 2,680
  • Goal: 2,000
  • Deadline: 7-1-2008
We the undersigned hereby petition the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to completely ban the inhumane practice of leg traps [on Bobcats and other animals] in the state of Iowa.
 
Update 2007:   Over 500 hand written signatures were collected within one county in the state of Iowa and delivered to the Iowa DNR in 2006.

What a shame that some people ripped up some of the hand written signatures at two local venues attempting to silence our civil rights.

June 2007: CITES Forces US to Backoff Bobcats, Will Iowa obey worldwide legislation? Click here for more info.

Leg hold traps are cruel and unnecessary and outdated. We will continue to ask the Iowa DNR to stop it and it has been on the federal legislation floor before and will be again and then Federal Law will override state law and those committing the crime will do federal time.

For more info, visit these wonderful and very informative sites:

www.BanLegholdTraps.com

www.DogCatFur.com


Watch the Video  (warning, as the reality of leg hold traps are incredibly barbaric and cruel, the video contains graphic subject matter)



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Number Date Name State Please give your comments to the DNR about the cruel practice of leg-trapping bobcats (and otters and other animals) Picture Report
2,680 1:38 pm PDT, Aug 19 ANGELA BOND      
2,679 9:55 am PDT, Aug 13 Carrie Coulter Mississippi    
2,678 1:57 pm PDT, Jul 21 greta malkotzoglou      
2,677 2:19 pm PDT, Jul 10 Pam Denman Kansas There's never an excuse for extreme cruelty to animals.  
2,676 5:41 am PDT, May 31 Annelies Ooms   PLEASE STOP ALL THIS CRUELTY AGAINST ALL ANIMALS
2,675 1:30 pm PDT, May 16 Veronica Garcia      
2,674 2:00 pm PDT, May 11 Elizabeth Gill California    
2,673 7:41 pm PDT, Apr 28 Day Elam Tennessee Outdated. Why should an animal be hurt by man, when alternatives are available. We need to enforce humane methods, and freedom for God's creatures.  
2,672 7:56 am PDT, Apr 19 James Herald Indiana    
2,671 1:43 am PDT, Mar 17 vivien de Boer-Harm      
2,670 3:43 pm PDT, Mar 11 joy Hufford Iowa    
2,669 4:00 pm PST, Feb 27 Ivana Soldic      
2,668 4:01 pm PST, Feb 24 Anonymous Colorado    
2,667 6:24 pm PST, Feb 22 Cher Isbell Texas    
2,666 3:10 pm PST, Feb 12 Laurel Watson Arizona    
2,665 6:14 pm PST, Jan 30 JT Snow Washington    
2,664 2:42 am PST, Jan 21 SANDRA ROCHA   It's horrible and unacceptable!STOP ALL BARBARIAN ACTS OF CRUELTY AND VIOLENCE AGAINST ALL ANIMALS!  
2,663 3:01 pm PST, Dec 21 Julija Petrovic      
2,662 10:42 am PST, Nov 23 Alessandro Barracciu   it's unacceptable!  
2,661 10:41 am PST, Nov 23 Laura Tatti   please stop it now!it's horrible
2,660 1:49 pm PST, Nov 15 Shannon Saldana Ohio    
2,659 8:36 am PST, Nov 13 REGINA WIRTH      
2,658 2:20 am PDT, Nov 1 Lazar Gabriela      
2,657 1:51 am PDT, Nov 1 Michele vinal New York    
2,656 12:40 pm PDT, Oct 31 kathyrn kugler Iowa How many signatures does it take??? I don't think that magical numbers exist in the eyes of these cruel S.O.B's that are causing extreme pain & cruelty to these animals. What if that was your grandchilds LEG,or ARM, trapped in one of these devices? Would you think differently then? Probably not... I just wanted to be the voice for the unheard... PEACE UP IN YA!!!
2,655 9:22 am PDT, Oct 31 RevIluliaq maknoon Washington    
2,654 1:59 pm PDT, Oct 30 Catherine Methot    
2,653 10:36 am PDT, Oct 30 Elena Gageanu   STOP TRAPPING ANIMALS OF ANY KIND!!!!! What's got into you, people?!  
2,652 10:33 pm PDT, Oct 29 cris Colombi      
2,651 7:30 pm PDT, Oct 29 bergstromjoy@ms Bergstrom North Carolina    

Please Ban Leg-Trapping of Bobcats in Iowa

The following information was published by columnist Barb Ickes:

Many hunters and trappers say the river otter population has made enough of a comeback that a limited harvest season would be healthy for them.

John Porth, 56, said he’s been trapping all kinds of animals along the Wapsipinicon (Wapsi) River near Donahue since he was a kid. Though he agrees “it’s time” to open a trapping season on river otters, Porth said the species was even thicker in this part of the state 10 years ago.
Today, Porth said, he’d be comfortable taking one otter by trap on his 500-plus-acre farm. A decade ago, he’d have taken three or four.
But Andrews has evidence of a healthier otter population. After all, the DNR has more than 400 otter carcasses in the deep freeze, trapped accidentally or hit by cars and then turned over to the agency in recent years.
In fact, as soon as the DNR opens a trapping season on otters, it can sell those pelts to fur buyers. With the current hide value between $60 and $100, the agency could make as much as $40,000 on its current collection of otter pelts. The 200 or so bobcat hides that have been collected by the DNR over the years could fetch the agency another $20,000.
 
The demand for pelts is being driven by the European fashion industry, Andrews said.
As the biologist who was so instrumental in reintroducing otters to Iowa 20 years ago, Andrews said the last thing he wants to see is the species get in population trouble again. But he also acknowledges the purpose of bringing otters back in the first place: to get enough of them to trap.
In fact, lots of Iowans want to see an even larger otter and bobcat harvest than what the DNR is proposing, he said.
“We’ve got pressure to go statewide,” he said. “I don’t know how long we can hold the line.”
The final proposal taken to the Iowa Natural Resource Commission will depend in great part on what the public has to say about it. The comment period will include public meetings at a half-dozen locations around the state.
The topic: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, is proposing a limited hunting and trapping season on bobcats and a limited trapping season on river otters in portions of the state, including Scott County.
Timeline: The DNR is in a public comment period. The harvest-season proposal could change, based on the public’s input. The decision on whether to allow trapping and hunting of otters and bobcats ultimately lies with the Iowa Natural Resource Commission.
The proposal: Under its current plans, the DNR would allow Iowa trappers to take 300 river otters and would allow the trapping and hunting of 200 bobcats. It is not possible for the agency to strictly enforce the limits because some hunters and trappers could not instantly be made aware when the limits are reached.
Current numbers: The DNR estimates there are 7,000 river otters and 2,500 bobcats in the state.
Values: Otter and bobcat pelts currently range in value from $60 to $100. Officials say the demand for the pelts is driven by the European fashion industry.
The species: River otters and bobcats are considered “renewable resources,” according to the DNR. A river otter reintroduction program began in Iowa in 1985. Bobcats were removed from the state’s threatened species list in 2004.
Send comments of disapproval to Ron.Andrews@dnr.state.ia.us
Or you can write Andrews at: Iowa Department of Natural Resources, c/o Ron Andrews, 1203 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, IA, 50428.

DNR is Accepting Comments on Proposed Otter, Bobcat Seasons
Posted: January 31, 2006

CLEAR LAKE - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is taking comments on a proposed river otter trapping season, and a proposed bobcat hunting and trapping season. Both seasons would be limited to certain areas of the state, and have quotas, with the possibility of expanding statewide in the future.

The DNR is proposing a trapping zone for river otters for the area of the state east of U.S. highways 63 and 71 and south of U.S. Hwy. 30. The DNR is proposing a limit of 300 river otters in the zone, and a season limit of two river otters per trapper. The river otter population is growing at an estimated rate of more than 6.5 percent annually, and with the harvest limit of 300 otters per year, the season should have no impact on the overall population, and still allow for considerable growth.

Trappers will be required to report a harvest to the DNR within 24 hours, and must tag the otter within 72 hours with either a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tag or an Iowa River Otter Harvest tag.

The bobcat hunting and trapping proposal includes a zone south of I-80 and U.S. Hwy. 20, and west of U.S. Hwy. 71. The season will have a limited harvest of 200 bobcats. With a current population growth of about 7 percent annually, the quota will still allow for considerable population growth.

Bobcat harvest will have the same tagging requirements as river otters. The proposed seasons for both species is the first Saturday in November through Jan. 31, the same as other furbearer seasons.

The following information meetings are scheduled.

Feb. 7, Washington County Conservation Commission at Marr Park, Washington, at 7 p.m.
Feb. 10, Atlantic Public Library, 507 Poplar St., Atlantic, at 7 p.m.
Feb. 23, F & M Bank, backdoor, alley entrance, 101 East Main St., Manchester, at 7 p.m.
Feb. 28, Iowa Lakes Community College, 1900 Grande Avenue, Spencer at 7 p.m.
March 8, Pin Oak Nature Center, Chariton, at 7 p.m.

Both species are open to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources depredation policy.

More information on the proposals is available at www.iowadnr.com, then click on wildlife. There is an opportunity to send comments directly from the page.

For more information, contact Ron Andrews, state furbearer biologist, at 641-357-3517.

Note: This Please Ban Leg-Trapping of Bobcats in Iowa petition was submitted by Iowa Citizens and abroad Against Cruel Leg Traps. ThePetitionSite.com is a free service provided to help concerned citizens rally support for issues they believe in. The opinions expressed by this petition do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of ThePetitionSite.com or Care2.com. There is no express or implied endorsement of this petition nor any newsletter offers (except those from Care2.com) by Care2.com, Inc, ThePetitionSite.com, or our sponsors. If you believe this system is being abused, please contact customer support.

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