Trappers and pet owners urged to take precautions

Wolf trapping is underway as of Dec. 15 and standard furbearer seasons are in full swing, so the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks urges pet owners to be mindful that there could be trapping activity in the woods.

"Trappers are similarly reminded to follow Montana's regulations aimed at avoiding accidental pet captures and to use every precaution to avoid capturing a dog," said Brian Giddings, FWP's furbearer coordinator.

While such incidents are uncommon, Montana law nevertheless requires traps on public lands to be set back at least 50 feet from a road or trail. For wolf traps that distance is extended to 150 feet and 300 to 1,000 feet from trailheads and 1,000 feet from public campgrounds.  

After a process to improve regulations a decade ago, Montana now has some of the best regulations in the nation to avoid non-target animals. All trappers should study the Montana Trapping Regulations for details.

Knowing that regulated trapping activities can occur on public and private lands through February, dog-owners can take the following steps to further minimize risks: keep dogs on a leash or otherwise always under control, and don't let dogs wander off, especially out of sight.

"On the rare occasion when a dog does get caught, it would likely be in foothold device that can be opened to remove the dog's paw," Giddings said. "Both dog owners and trappers care greatly about family pets. Trappers must take precautions when setting traps by ensuring that the trap set is legal and by always bearing in mind the recreational pursuits of other people sharing the outdoors."

Trapping is a tightly regulated activity in Montana and most other states. Montana currently has about 4,000 licensed trappers who contribute to furbearer management and wildlife research.

For more information visit FWP's website fwp.mt.gov and click on “Trapping in Montana.”