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Archive for November 7th, 2011

Pro-wolf politician attacked in his home

Posted in Wolf Current Events on November 7, 2011| 1 Comment »


“A local politician in northern Sweden, openly opposed to excessive wolf hunting, was hospitalized on Tuesday night after being knocked out by a rock thrown through his bedroom window.

“I only had time to think that there had been an explosion,” Green Party member Arne Johansson from Ånge, in north western Sweden, told the Aftonbladet newspaper from the hospital bed.

“Then I woke up and found out it was a rock about ten centimetres wide.”

The blow had knocked Johansson unconscious. About two hours later he came to, and was able to call for help.

Johansson feels deep respect for the wild northern predator, and he has openly expressed his feelings on the eradication of wolves.

But after repeated threats and attacks, this might be the last straw, he told Afonbladet.

The same day as the attack, Johansson had also discovered the bolts to his car wheels were unscrewed, and that someone had carved a cross in the paint of the vehicle.

He has also previously received death threats in the mail.

It hasn’t been confirmed that it is his stance on wolf hunting that is the root of all his problems, but Johansson told the paper he had been informed by police that it is a clear possibility.

Earlier this year, Johansson had debated the wolf issue with a group of hunters, which made him realize just what he was up against.

“It was then I understood how fanatical they are. Not only did they want to wipe out the Swedish pack, but also the Russian,” he told Aftonbladet.

“Not a single wolf should exist on the planet. That’s crossing the line. I spoke my mind.”

Ann Dahlerus with the Predatory Animal Association (Svenska Rovdjursföreningen), which is against licenced killing of wolves, told Aftonbladet that it is quite common for their members to receive threats.

“Especially in areas with a lot of wolves it might be difficult socially to publicly be positive about wolves,” she said.

“In county Dalarna we tried getting members to speak up for the wolves in an interview with Sveriges Television but none of the 15 members we called felt that they dared.”

Marcus Kalén, 41, lives in a village not far from where Johansson was attacked. He’s an avid hunter, and among those who feel wolves need to be restricted to zoos.

“It’s hard for people from the cities to understand. Hunting and fishing are the only hobbies we have out here. If the wolves stay these become impossible. We don’t even dare release our dogs,” he told the Aftonbladet newspaper.

Kalén doesn’t think that the wolf debate was behind the assault of Johansson, explaining to the paper that there’s no pressing wolf issue in the area right now.

But there are indications that violence and threats against politicians in Sweden have increased, and the National council for crime prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet, BRÅ) initiated a study to investigate just how comprehensive these crimes are, on the behest of the government.

According to the head of the unit for statistical surveys at BRÅ, Erik Grevholm, this is a common strategy used by the state when a problem is detected; to gather a comprehensive knowledge base about the problem.

“And it has become a problem in Sweden, one can easily establish that by just reading the newspapers,” Grevholm told The Local.”

**Special thanks to The Local Sweden’s News for providing this information (
http://www.thelocal.se/37138/20111103/#)

 

 

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Wildlife officials meet with trappers, animal rights activists

Posted in Uncategorized on November 7, 2011| 1 Comment »


“Recent incidents of household pets getting caught in leg-hold traps intended to snare bobcats, coyotes and a variety of foxes and other fur-bearing animals have spurred heated debate in the Silver State.

Opponents say trapping wild animals is a barbaric practice that threatens domestic pets.

Trappers — who get about $500 for each bobcat pelt and $40 to $50 for a coyote pelt — say the predators they catch and kill for their pelts are responsible for far more pet deaths in Nevada.

State wildlife officials are in the unenviable position of trying to please both groups.

To that end commissioners with the Nevada Department of Wildlife and Chief Game Warden Rob Buonamici met with trappers and animal rights activists in Las Vegas on Monday and will meet in Washoe County this week to discuss possible rule revisions on where traps can be set, what type of trap can be used, and how many hours a trapper can leave one unchecked.

On Monday, Wildlife Department Commissioner David McNinch said existing rules that bar trapping within 1,000 feet of homes and popular hiking trails “seemed reasonable” for a number of years until a feral cat was injured after being ensnared in a leg-hold trap at a Northern Nevada park in August 2010.

Last year, a family dog was caught in a leg-hold trap on Mount Charleston, but there were conflicting reports on whether the animal was injured.

A bill seeking to change the rules was introduced in the 2011 Legislature. Lawmakers did not take action other than to order wildlife officials to hear from both sides before implementing “reasonable” revisions, said McNinch.

McNinch noted the situation is much different in Southern Nevada than in the north, where a greater variety and higher number of fur-bearing animals roam the range.

Trappers are barred from trapping within 1,000 feet of homes and many of the state’s more popular hiking trails. Trappers want the current rules in effect to remain while Trailsafe and other animal welfare groups seek a 1,000-yard limit — and they want it to apply to hiking trails as well as homes.

Both sides agree private property owners should be exempt.

Animal advocates also seek to ban the leg-hold traps commonly used and instead want trappers to use box or cage traps that don’t injure animals, whether they are wild animals or domestic pets.

They also want to shorten the length of time trappers must check their traps, from 96 hours to 24 hours, and they want those traps to bear identification to enhance enforcement.

But trappers say their traps are often stolen and they fear putting their names on them would enable someone to set a trap either in a prohibited location or by using unlawful baiting techniques to set them up.

Karen Lane, president of the Las Vegas Valley Humane Society, acknowledged the problem is more severe in Northern Nevada, “But we’ve had our fair share,” she said, “particularly on Mount Charleston.”

Indeed, it is in the mountains where most Southern Nevada trappers work. She advocates outlawing trapping in areas where it is already illegal to hunt.

Gina Greisen of Nevada Voters for Animals supports forcing trappers to put their identities on the traps they set, but both trappers and wildlife officials disagree.

“It’s like a license plate,” said Buonamici, a 32-year game warden. “When you have a bank robbery you can get the (plate) number but it’s probably a stolen car.”

Trailsafe on its website claims about 100 pet dogs become trapped in leg-holds each year. Buonamici said he gets between six and 12 calls a year in Southern Nevada, most of them in the Mount Charleston area.

McNinch said any revisions to trapping laws would not be discussed until February or March.

Contact reporter Doug McMurdo at dmcmurdo@reviewjournal.com or  702-224-5512″      

**Special thanks to Doug McMurdo, Las Vegas Review-Journal for providing this information (http://www.lvrj.com/news/wildlife-officials-meet-with-trappers-animal-rights-activists-133410043.html)

 

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