The Public Trust Doctrine states that wildlife belongs to the public and wildlife agencies are to act as trustees. Yet, by purchasing a trapping permit for a mere $20, a trapper can kill an unlimited number of wild animals for their fur. Not only do trappers take wild lives only to sell these animals’ fur to the international fashion industry, but they also endanger the majority of folks, who do not trap but may want to use public lands for recreation by setting their lethal traps and snares on land that belongs to the public.
Only five species out of the 14 species trappers pursue for their fur, have a quota – bobcat, wolverine, swift fox, otter and fisher. click here to see for yourself how many wild animals have already been killed in traps and snares this season. You may notice a rapid increase of bobcats killed, the reason being that bobcat pelts are selling for close to $500 a piece on the world market right now. There is a positive correlation between trapper greed and pelt prices – the higher the pelt prices, the more traps and snares are set primarily on public lands!