In the late 1990's NYSDEC instituted a live trap and transfer program to reintroduce river otters into western New York. Some 279 otters were released in various locations there by the year 2000..The otters took hold rapidly and now are abundant across western New York. Despite this there still is no open trapping season for otters in these areas, better than twenty years later.. What is the holdup???? Some, me included, that believe that SECRET DEALS were made with financial contributors. The only real change is that beaver
trappers in these areas have been saddled with trigger requirements to supposedly protect the otters..As a result beaver are trapped in a far less humane manner> Many of the biologists that dreamed up this reg at the Hales Creek field station are long retired, but trappers are stuck. One biologist even had his technician sneak around snooping on trappers for trigger compliance. All of this from an agency that is supposed to be our friend.
In the central Adirondacks I was among other trappers that had to sound the alarm to DEC about the decline of fishers. The Warrensburgh based biologist was too busy playing with collaring pine marten to have noticed. So how did he react? by shortening the season, but on the wrong end! No regard to pelt primeness. We also had to keep logs and turn in skulls or jaw bones. We were subjected to a college theory that does not work (TPUE), traps per unit of effort, with no regard to the trappers ability or where the traps were set.Eventually the biologists that was responsible for that got promoted, then quit (twice) and moved to Florida and we still have the too early season.
I was asked to be part of the New v York Fisher BMP study, when the season was almost over.. I was assigned a female technician that was more interested in checking her e-mail than going in the woods. When I suggested what I considered the most efficient and humane traps I was ignored and told what kind of traps to use.
Over the years I have contributed mink and otter carcasses to DEC for their studies. Countless Fisher skulls, and beaver meat they needed for bait. Yet when we ask them to meet us half way we are ignored.. As former chairman of the JTI Committee I traveled to meetings with them all over the state for just under 25 years. It was always the same, they knew everything and we trappers knew nothing. They even ignored their own survey in St.Lawrence county.
So you wonder why I feel as I do? I'm through helping these political puppets. Supply them with bait, carcasses, or info? Not a chance !
