‘A long time to die’: Wildlife advocates spar with hunters over unsuccessful petition to regulate trapping guidelines

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - It’s business as usual for trappers in the state, but animal advocates aren’t happy about it.

Especially when they say animals are dying slow, unnecessary deaths.

That’s because a recent decision denies their petition to change regulations.

Animal lovers are mad because they say the state’s current window allowing trappers 96 hours to check traps instead of 24 hours allows for the unintentional trapping of mountain lions, which is illegal. That decision stayed in a unanimous vote in a recent meeting with the Board of Wildlife Commissioners with the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

One woman who saw images explains how seeing them made her feel during the public comment portion.

“I was shown a picture of a mountain lion hanging by his paw from a trap in a tree. We used to use crucifixion as a punishment, and it took a long time to die.”

A rebuttal from the other side, condemns that notion.

“This latest effort is just another attempt, again by the Donate Now organizations to present old arguments to new faces on this commission.”

This back and forth in front of the Board of Wildlife Commissioners went on for about three hours.

Time is what this petition is all about. Trappers say changing the regulations to 24 hours would disrupt their way of life.

“Trapping is causing unnecessary injury and death to these animals. Ninety-six hours just laying in agony is horrific to think about.”

Then someone from the other side of the aisle addressed how this affects trappers themselves.

“If you go to 24 hours, he’s going to go daily. He’s going to do that for about two days and then he’s broke. The daily drive would be more than he (the trapper) could do.”

One supporter of the petition had this to say about trappers checking in more frequently.

“I don’t really have a lot of sympathy for people who are complaining that this would lead to them having to spend more money in gas. Hunting is not a necessity.”

But it is for some residents, who have been hunting for several years around the state.

“I’d like to be able to pass on this legacy to my children. Taking this away, making this go away like they did in California like they did in this last election in Colorado, trying to get rid of it is just isn’t fair to me and my family.”

One of the lead petitioners with the Nevada Wildlife Alliance tells FOX5 meeting with the commissioners was a necessary stopping point on the way to taking it up with legislators who might be able to help the cause. But he adds that’s not going to happen this session.

Instead, he says animal rights groups are waiting for, “more sympathetic” leadership at the top.“

For animals captured for management or research purposes, the American Veterinary Medical Association recommends checking traps at least once every 24 hours.

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