[CT Birds] trapped owl

[Larry Bausher]

I don't know how much light this will shed on the rumor, except to  
document that the story is not a rumor.  I first heard about it  
watching the Channel 8 News several weeks ago, around the time the  
bill banning the use of the traps was coming up for a vote.  Below is  
the story as it was presented.  It can be found by searching "trapped  
owl" at the wtnh website.

Did the state trap the
trappers?
Trappers say state set them up
Updated: Tuesday, 10 Mar 2009, 5:50 PM EDT
Published : Monday, 09 Mar 2009, 7:55 PM EDT
   .    Story by: Mark Davis
(WTNH) - Trappers in the state are saying a highly publicized  
incident involving a trapped owl was a set-up to get the devices banned.

Lawmakers heard the pros and cons of the controversial leg-hold traps  
today. And, animal rights activists say it's time for an outright ban.

Trappers who make a living by removing nuisance animals say there's  
no need for change. Meanwhile, activists say they are ignoring the  
facts.
A Great Horned Owl that was recently euthanized because of  
complications from an injury that witnesses say were caused by a leg- 
hold trap has now become a rallying point for animal rights activists  
in the state attempting once again to ban the devices.
"Just as we've had a debate in this country about torture, so, we, in  
this session, in part, are going to have a debate here about leg  
traps and body crushing traps," Senator Ed Meyer, of the Enviornment  
Committee, said.
Advocates of the ban brought a Great Horned Owl to the state capitol  
today to dramatize their point. And, a trapper who has converted his  
business to live traps.
"I stopped using these traps in '84. I've been using live traps ever  
since," Skip Hilliker, of East Hampton, said.
But, the Coalition of Connecticut Sportsmen packed the hearing room  
today with nearly 50 trappers from around the state.
"I think it's a set-up," Bob Crook, of the Coalition of CT Sportsmen,  
said.
The longtime lobbyist for the group said today that the whole  
incident with the injured owl appears to be phoney. And, the D-E-P  
gave them fodder for the charge saying the trap that alledgedly  
injured the owl, didn't work.
"It was broken and there was a key feature of the trap that was bent,  
which means the trap could not be set, so it leaves open the  
question; how did the trap get on the foot of the owl?" asked Edward  
Parker, D.E.P. Chief Bureau of Natural Resources.
"Supposition is somebody put it in there so why was put in there?"  
Crook asked. "Most probably to enhance the potential of this  
legislation that's going on in there."
"If it was altered at all, it probably was because of the effort they  
had to make to get the owl out of the trap," Laura Simon, of the  
Humane Society of America, said.


Larry Bausher
West Haven

On Mar 30, 2009, at 12:34 PM, Glenn Williams wrote:

>
> My father is an avid hunter (as was I at one time).  The rumor
> going around among hunters is the the owl was a set up by the  
> "antis" to help the cause of banning leg-hold traps.  ("Antis" are,  
> in the circle of the hunting community, anti-hunting and anti- 
> guns.  Just the language alone shows a real polarization.  I kid my  
> father each time he uses the term - do you mean anti-Semites?  Anti- 
> abortion activists?
>
> The claim is that the owl's situation and injuries are not  
> consistent with a natural trapping situation and the DEP is aware  
> of this but will not make a public atatement about it.  It is also  
> claimed that rehabilitator is not licensed and was probably in on  
> the plot.
>
> I don't know any of the facts, but this sounds absurd to me.  I  
> certainly can't speak for all hunters, but this story seems to be  
> taken seriously by many.  Does anyone have information that can  
> shed light on this rumor?
>
> I find it sad that hunters and birders are often at odds with each  
> other, especially at the political level, when we should be teaming  
> up on most issues.  My father shares emails that can be best  
> described as propaganda.  One of my favorites was promoting Bush as  
> a great environmentalist because he was clearing brush and there  
> were Wild Turkeys on his ranch.
>
> Glenn Williams
> Mystic, CT
> --- On Sun, 3/29/09, Pat Dufour <patdufour at worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
>> From: Pat Dufour <patdufour at worldnet.att.net>
>> Subject: [CT Birds] Owl article and   Fox Sparrow, Phoebe, Siskins.
>> To: "ctbirds-request at lists.ctbirding.org"  
>> <ctbirds at lists.ctbirding.org>
>> Date: Sunday, March 29, 2009, 4:30 PM
>> Interesting article in this mornings Hartford Courant about
>> the Owl that was caught in the trap.  It states that the
>> Connecticut Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators Association
>> is offering a $5,000. reward for information leading to the
>> arrest and successful conviction of the person/persons
>> responsible for illegally trapping a GHO ---.  The article
>> was in the ITown section of the paper.
>> I still have a couple of  Siskins feeding.   My resident
>> Carolina Wrens have been joined by a single Fox Sparrow and
>> a Phoebe is singing very near my house.
>> Pat Dufour, East Hampton, CT.
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>
>
>
>
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