Letter to Kamloops Daily News

Thanks to Bev Lorimer for her great work, this letter was published in the Kamloops Daily News.

Many of the residents of Lac Le Jeune would like to express our disappointment with Cam Fortems’ article, “Tracking the Wolf,” in the February 2, 2008, edition of the Kamloops Daily News. While this article gives insight into one man’s career in the North Thompson, it unfortunately glamorizes the practice of trapping, and neglects to mention the distinctly unromantic realities of today’s outdated harvesting practices. It also avoids the impact such practices have on neighbouring communities.

A number of residents in our rural community participate in many outdoor winter activities, but, with apprehension due to active and escalating animal trapping in our area. A number of years ago leg-hold traps were discovered beside groomed ski trails in the Lac Le Jeune area. These trails are very popular with local and Kamloops skiers and their dogs. In November an active leg-hold trap was found 5 meters off Melba Creek Forest Service Road, another area used regularly by snowshoers and skiers with their dogs and children. Also, a trapper, who currently holds a trapping license for a 300 square mile area, including Chuwhels Mountain, Lac Le Jeune, Connolly, McConnell and Bush Lake (old Canada Games trails) areas, is trapping in a busy recreational area and near a farm residence on the Walloper Creek Forest Service Road. His motivations for pursuing his harvesting in close proximity to pets and people remain unclear, and the public has only been made aware of his activities through signage erected by a Lac Le Jeune resident – not the trapper.

While these activities are worrisome enough, recently evidence of such reprehensible pursuits has been found much closer to home. Last week the carcases of three coyotes were discovered on Ridge Mountain Forest Service Road – less than 500 meters from a resident’s home. Two of the coyotes were skinned, while the third still had its fur intact. These are not sights one wants to encounter while out for a walk in the community!

Ministry of Environment trapping regulations state that “When trapping in areas near recreational areas or communities …. Warning signs should be used to inform people of trapping activities.” This is certainly not happening in our area. The same regulations also state that trappers need “to remember that the landscape is utilized by a number of different user groups and that the safety of non-target species is vital to good trapline management” (Ministry of Environment, 2007-2008 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis, pg. 92.)

As shown, these regulations have not been adhered to by local harvesters, and they illustrate the increasing dangers that these activities have generated. Recreational users of any crown land have to be aware there is likely to be an active trapline in their proximity. The Ministry of the Environment not only needs to address the conflict developing in these recreational and rural areas, it must also properly enforce its regulations.

We live in an area rich in wildlife and with outstanding recreational opportunities. Hopefully, with improved management this area will provide a safe place to enjoy the outdoors.

Signed by the following Lac Le Jeune residents:

Ross & Bev Lorimer
Pam & Casey Sheridan
The Upton Family
Jim & Carolyn Phillips
Kecia & Mike Turunen
Edel & Monica Mattfeld
John Dumesnil
Miro & Hana Struss
Hugh & Pat Burton
Mike & Janet Jones
Bob Brown & Sylvia Currie
Brenda Mohebbi
Darren Twidale & Sonia Walczak
Pat Endersby ( Chuwells Mountain Road)