Jamie Reardon wants to clear the air.
A dog got caught in one of his traps on Nov. 3 and a story ran in last week's edition of the Pen with the owner protesting the use of coyote traps along the edge of the old base road near where it connects to Goose Cove Road.
"I have the utmost respect for people and their animals - I don't want to hurt them," said Mr. Reardon. "I've been trapping 20 years, since I was old enough to get my license, and this is the first time this has happened."
To demonstrate that the trap is made to restrain and not break bones, Mr. Reardon put his hand in it and closed it on his fingers.
"I sympathize with the man, that he was bit by his dog," said Mr. Reardon. "But I've caught eight coyotes up behind town now this year and if they weren't killed there'd probably be twenty up there next spring, they breed fast, and that's just a few kilometers from the elementary school."
He explained that the closest building to the trap is the Haven Inn hotel, which is 3.2 km away and that he had cleared the place he set the trap with the Department of Wildlife.
"I have two traps set for coyotes and I went to Wildlife three or four times and they told me that where I had it set was a wilderness area," said Mr. Reardon. "There's not much money in coyotes, I'm not in it for the money - myself and many other people are concerned that they're coming into town. When coyotes first appeared you'd never see them close to your rabbit snares but now they're at everything because they're getting hungry and when they're coming into town it's because they're after something. At first they were afraid of people, but when they lose that fear that's when they become dangerous to pets and maybe even children."
Mr. Reardon referred to the killing of a 19 year-old girl by coyotes in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, this past fall.
As for setting the trap along the edge of the road - Mr. Reardon contended that it is "more path than road" and that if there are people walking up there he didn't think the owner of a husky should be running it off its leash.
Trapper responds to concerns
Jamie Reardon with a holding trap on his hand. Mr. Reardon says the locations of his traps have been cleared with the Department of Wildlife, they are not a danger to people and pets and that they help protect St. Anthony from coyotes. AARON BESWICK PHOT
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- Published on December 7, 2009
- Published on July 8, 2010
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Aaron Beswick
Coyotes in town
Jamie Reardon wants to clear the air.
A dog got caught in one of his traps on Nov. 3 and a story ran in last week's edition of the Pen with the owner protesting the use of coyote traps along the edge of the old base road near where it connects to Goose Cove Road.
"I have the utmost respect for people and their animals - I don't want to hurt them," said Mr. Reardon. "I've been trapping 20 years, since I was old enough to get my license, and this is the first time this has happened."
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Comments
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- Tom Foolry
- - August 31, 2011 at 15:28:44
I agree with you guys, Jamie is completely in the clear with this one. It would just be horrible if someone tried to confiscate his trapping supplies, because he really is contributing to a good cause of keeping the foxes down.
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- Gord
- - July 9, 2010 at 10:24:30
Totally agree with Jamie. I had similiar issues five six years ago west of Corner Brook while snaring Foxes. Sometimes, individuals would drive in on a logging road some five or six kms. and then let their dogs run for an hour or so. Once those animals get the scent of buried bait, you know where they were headed. Even had one dog owner who was in the area of where I had a dozen or so Fox snares set, actually take a semi conscious Fox from my snare and bring it to the local Vet here in Corner Brook. That particular snare was approximately seven kms. off the TCH.
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- Donovan
- - July 9, 2010 at 10:24:30
Totally agree with Jamie's right to trap in this area, and I think he's doing a good thing to control the coyote population so close to the town (as a hunter I know he's not in it for the money), however it is a road/path quite often used by the general public for recreation and running animals...with this being so close to the town, how about a sign to let people know there are traps in the area. Like Coyote Traps Set in this Area - Proceed at your own risk . As hunters and trappers there arent always legal obligations for these types of actions but there are ethical responsibilities to the community at large and these need to be adhered to in order to ensure our future hunting/trapping rights.
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- Jodi
- - July 9, 2010 at 10:24:29
It is too bad that Zach Newell's dog got caught in one of the traps. But Jamie is right with regards to coyotes. Here in PEI where I now live, coyotes are rampant. They are very much an invasive species. And when they have no natural predators and an abundance of food supply, their numbers will balloon. People are even seeing them near the edges of the city. The ones that I have seen here, they barely have any fear of people. Pets that are allowed to go outside on their own often go missing . They have even attacked large dogs when their owners are not 50 feet away. Dirty nasty creatures, they are. And I know that what they are doing is natural , but is it going to take a coyote hurting a child or adult to open people's eyes to the need that something must be done about them?
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