Our History

After encountering a pine marten caught in a leghold trap and hearing of dogs killed in traps, a group of Montanans who enjoy the outdoors gathered in 2006 to discuss how to make the lands safe from traps and snares.

When Cupcake, a young dog, was killed in a trap on an interpretive trail near Missoula in 2007, we incorporated Footloose Montana, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to inform Montanans about the scope, danger and cruelty of trapping, funded by local individuals contributing from their own checkbooks.

We soon learned that each trapper may set an unlimited number of traps and that tens of thousands of traps and snares litter our public lands. All waterways can have traps at the water’s edge. Trapping for fur and recreation kills not only our companion animals and working animals, but has pushed iconic species into steep decline, and put lynx, fisher, and wolverine on the endangered list. No one is immune to the danger of traps. They brutally maim and kill more than 150,000 animals a year for recreation in Montana alone. Yet many citizens—new and seasoned alike—are unaware that trapping still occurs on public land. Many more mistakenly believe that regulations are much more stringent than they are. 

Footloose Montana is dedicated to putting an end to the nightmare of recreational trapping and working toward the protection of all wildlife.