All,

The US Fish and Wildlife Service is currently taking comments on a proposed rule for the management of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS).

The proposed rule specifically addresses prohibiting predator management on the NWRS but also notes that recreational hunting and fishing of predators is not considered predator management. It is unclear as to whether trapping is considered as a part of recreational hunting or not or if this only applies to APHIS Wildlife Services in their roles on the NWRS. In addition, we all know that predator management is important in managing predator populations both on specific properties as well as adjacent properties so this rule could have impacts to nearby areas.

The comment period is open until March 4, 2024.

The following is a link to the proposed rule. You can submit your comments by clicking on the Comment link in the upper left side under the title.

Proposed Rule: NWRS: Biol. Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health


I am encouraging everyone to submit comments on this proposed rule as there have been 17,000+ comments already submitted and the few I've read are saying predator trapping is evil with all of the same misinformation that we typically hear. If we don't comments, perception is going to be we don't care.

I submitted comments on behalf of the FTA today and am willing to share the pdf if anyone is interested.

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions.


Jason Wisniewski
Fur Takers of America

Thanks, Jason for the heads up. One factor that most trappers fail to recognize is the importance of submitting comments on unnecessary anti-trapping rule changes that will negatively impact the science-based management of our nation's natural resources. There is a movement afoot nationally to ban public lands trapping and this is another effort to restrict or outright ban a science-based activity. From nutria control, to protecting the upland bird and waterfowl nesting success our state and federal wildlife area managers must have the best tools available. Trapping is just one of those tools!

Thanks for posting

Commented on it

Commented

wws

I’ll be commenting, thanks for posting.

When I was a kid, I submitted a bid to trap a NWR. If I recall it was rather inexpensive and gave me access to literally tens of thousands of acres. The only thing I could not trap was coyotes because refuge management believes (and still does) that coyotes prey on foxes and foxes eat ducks. Raising ducks was the primary mission of this refuge, so no coyotes were allowed to be trapped. It’s still that way.

thats the Mesopredator theory, Its not just foxes, its raccoons, skunks and possums. Studies have shown that coyotes act as a control on these animals and that these animals are more detrimental to nesting ground birds than coyotes. Its not just ducks its also pheasants and quail. In fact Pheasants forever also believes in this. So leaving coyotes alone is a benefit.

That's why you trap them all. Hard.

This is the link to make a comment.

Link <<< Click here.

Another study done in one part of the country that they think applies everywhere. I can pretty much guarantee if a coyote has a hen on a nest vs fox/coon/possum…he’s taking the hen and nest every time. Coyotes won’t touch coon or possum carcasses here, and other than the study in Texas I’ve never seen evidence of them even acting like they want any part of a coon or possum.
I don’t trap coyotes for ducks, but I’ll trap/kill everyone I can find to save a turkey.

The following is the letter that the animal rights, anti-trapping activists are wanting their members to send. Their "Coexistence" strategy is one that is entirely based on the mythical notion that active predator management is no longer needed, that all species will live in a state of equilibrium if man just steps aside. Trappers and hunters know this is not true! Our National Refuges today, Our public lands tomorrow. Following quote is AR's boiler plate letter to the USFWS.

"I support the USFWS taking a step in the right direction through the proposed regulation aiming to limit predator control across the National Wildlife Refuge System, as outlined in docket number FWS–HQ–NWRS–2022–0106. Nevertheless, the regulation should explicitly forbid trapping and the killing of predators for recreation and "damage control". All of these practices, excluded from the current rule, are deemed inhumane and contradict the fundamental purpose of establishing these lands as sanctuaries for wildlife.

The National Wildlife Refuge System is the only home many wolves, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, and foxes have ever known. The prohibition of predator-control programs and indiscriminate body-gripping traps on refuges is essential for making their home safer, increasing their wellbeing, and allowing them to flourish. As a result, carnivores will be able to fulfill their ecological roles, which promote ecosystem resilience, biodiversity and human well-being."

When trained biologist opinions are replaced with feelings then wildlife will be mismanaged from that day on. The saying in MI that stuck in my head was that, ““every persons a deer expert 2 weeks a year”. Bunny huggers have no idea of how conservation even works so why ask for input when you already know what they think.

I can attest to this without any reservation, there is no greater threat to ground nesting shorebirds than coyotes. They will find and raid every nest. Red fox come in second. Raccoons are wondering foragers with a bad case of ADHD and will raid a nest which they stumble upon. Raccoons do however pose a significant threat to ground nesting birds when the raccoon population is high it an area. Lots of wandering raccoons will stumble into enough nests to be a problem.

300 acre former federal property in East Point GA with four ponds and a creek. First year on it every goose nest was raided. Not a single gosling hatched. I know because I was there catching water snakes and walked every inch of it.
Started trapping coyote and only coyote. The next year every nest successfully reared goslings. To the point that geese are now an issue.

Some of the rules and regs on some National Wildlife Refuges and state Game Management areas seem like a politician who has never been outside the city limits of Washington DC, set them. For example, in Arkansas, feral hogs are, and have been for years, out of control. Destroying habitat, ground nests, compete with wildlife for food, etc. Yet, page 27, of the 2023/34 AR Hunting Guidebook lists no less than 60 NWRs and GMAs, that feral hogs are protected 24/7/365.

My area is overrun with nutria. A buddy of mine wanted to shoot some on a nearby NWR. He stopped by the office to make sure it was ok…. They told him all fur bearers are protected on the refuge…even the invasive ones!
So much for trying to preserve the habitat!

They run deer and turkey hunts on some down here.
If you shoot a deer you better find it quick or there will be bone and fur left for you within a short time

Rules prohibit taking any critters other than feral hogs when engaged in a deer or turkey hunt

I get having a natural balance but not allowing any one thing to go unchecked.

Hey y'all,

I wanted to bump this thread as I learned some new information about this published proposal this week at the WMI North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

Apparently, this policy was published in the FR with a tighter than normal turn around time and it caught many state agencies and regional organizations off-guard. As a result, the Fish & Wildlife Service has re-opened the comment period until May 4, 2024.

USFWS BIDEH Policy and Comments

Some long-time agency professionals have said that this is a policy that everyone needs to pay attention to and comment on. They said after discussions with retired refuge managers, this policy could eliminate sound wildlife management on refuges which will bleed over onto nearby lands which are frequently state refuges under the management of state agencies.

At last count, there were over 100,000 comments submitted with the vast majority being from anti groups through their mass mailing systems.

I'd encourage everyone to submit comments if you have not already with focus specifically on the fact that predator control needs to be defined and the inconsistent management of the refuges in relationship to the landscapes around them.

Let me know if you have any questions for which I can help.

Jason Wisniewski
Fur Takers of America

thanks Jason

Thanks. Browsing through the most recent comments, they're clearly generated by AI/spambots from anti groups. They're not real people. Commenters getting their own states of residence wrong compared to their signature tag line, mixing other PETA messages not related to the wildlife refuge system in to this comment section. Hopefully this is obvious to the ones who are in charge of this commenting system, but I have my doubts.....