End trapping in
​Sourdough/ bozeman creek, Bozeman MT

Footloose Montana is working to end trapping in the Sourdough Creek drainage south of Bozeman. This particular trail is among the most popular and heavily used recreation sites in all of Gallatin Valley. Throngs of citizens can be found here during each season engaged in multiple use recreation activities including hiking, biking, running, and Nordic skiing. It is common for folks to bring their companion animals with them as off-leash dogs are part of the outdoor recreation culture in Bozeman. This canyon has a mosaic of land ownership with several sections of land owned by the City of Bozeman abutted to several sections of US Forest Service land. It is also part of core wildlife habitat in the migration corridor that connects the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. Many keystone species can be found here, including protected species like grizzly bears and Canada lynx.  By their very nature, traps are indiscriminate and often catch unintended victims. 
 
However, with the ever-expanding population growth in Bozeman, the wildland/urban interface is becoming more dense and the opportunities for conflict have increased dramatically. Trapping poses a very real and immediate threat on several levels. Public safety remains the primary concern. Hidden and baited traps pose a serious risk of injury to small children who might wander away from their parent. Likewise, an off-leash pet can easily become caught in a trap and suffer the cruel injuries that traps often impose. Confronted with the tragic scenario of a child or pet caught in a trap, most citizens panic, uncertain how to release the steel jaws of a trap. Footloose Montana is spearheading the effort to formally eliminate these devastating predicaments. 
 
Our current campaign is building momentum and gathering local signatures in order to provide widespread citizen support to this initiative to end trapping and snaring in Sourdough Creek. Footloose Montana has hired a wildlife researcher to produce a report on the effects of trapping at high-use recreation areas in Bozeman. We have also submitted a formal letter to the Bozeman mayor and city commission requesting their consideration to end trapping at this popular trail. The small minority of those who trap should not be able to hold the rest of the Bozeman citizenry hostage by forcing us to recreate in fear at a popular recreation area.
 
​

Vertical Divider

how you can help:

• Sign our petition to Bozeman City leadership calling for them to declare City-owned land in the Sourdough/Bozeman Crk. drainage as trap-free (like all City parks).
• Send emails to the City of Bozeman mayor and to each City Commissioner asking them to make City-owned land in Sourdough/Bozeman Crk. trap-free.  (email links below)​

Bozeman Mayor Cyndy Andrus
candrus@bozeman.net​
Bozeman Deputy Mayor Cunningham
tcunningham@bozeman.net
Bozeman City Commissioner Pomeroy
ipomeroy@bozeman.net  
Bozeman City Commissioner Madgic
jmadgic@bozeman.net 
Bozeman City Commissioner Coburn
ccoburn@bozeman.net
​

• ​If you have further questions about this campaign, please contact our Bozeman Director, Michael Stoerger at michael@footloosemontana.org​