Indiana will start a trapping season for otters unless the state attorney general's office and governor's office reject it.
Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission recently approved rules for a river otter trapping season, which would include a permit for hunters to sell otter and squirrel pelts. The trapping season would begin in fall 2015.
Otters in Indiana were hunted to near-extinction in the 1940s because of hunting and habitat loss. The Department of Natural Resources began reintroducing otters to the area in 1995, and removed them from the endangered species list in 2005. Otters are known to benefit the ecosystem by preying on sick and weak fish, slowing the spread of disease in the river environment. Otter numbers take a long time to recover because their pups have a high mortality rate, and otters are slow to reach sexual maturity.
Indiana cannot afford to lose their otter population to hunters again. Please sign the petition to urge Indiana's officials to reject the new hunting season!
We, the undersigned, are concerned about the proposed trapping season for river otters in Indiana.
As you know, Indiana’s Natural Resources Commission recently approved rules for a river otter trapping season, which would include a permit for hunters to sell otter and squirrel pelts. The trapping season would begin in fall 2015.
Otters in Indiana were hunted to near-extinction in the 1940s because of hunting and habitat loss. The Department of Natural Resources began reintroducing otters to the area in 1995, and removed them from the endangered species list in 2005. Otters are known to benefit the ecosystem by preying on sick and weak fish, slowing the spread of disease in the river environment. Otter numbers take a long time to recover because their pups have a high mortality rate, and otters are slow to reach sexual maturity.
Indiana cannot afford to lose their otter population to hunters again. We respectfully urge you to reject the new hunting season. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
