Search Trapping Incidents Database

A dog on his usual trail was caught in a leghold trap. The dog died quickly after being trapped as the ground was undisturbed, with a minimal mark on leg from the trap. Rufus died from head trauma — either hit his own head (unlikely) or was hit in the head by someone. The trapper had placed 75 traps around a subdivision in the Gila National Forest. The incident was reported to Game & Fish and to local law enforcement. The trap owner was found and charged with failure to check traps in 24 hours.

A golden eagle was found with a conibear trap on one of its legs in a grove of trees in Clinton, near Missoula, on Friday afternoon. The raptor apparently carried it for several days over an unknown distance before it was grounded with a mangled leg. The trap also did not have a tag with the trapper’s name, which is required by law. State authorities said the trap appeared to have been set by an inexperienced trapper, a poacher or someone trying to trap a nuisance dog or cat, which also is illegal. The bird was a healthy adult male weighing about 8 pounds, but its leg was injured beyond repair by the weight of the 3-pound trap.

Rascal was last seen by family members walking down the driveway on January 8. When he returned nearly a week later, he had a wire embedded in his abdomen and was suffering from exposure and severe frostbite to his paws. Authorities believe the wire is part of a snare and that Rascal survived by chewing the wire apart. It will take another 6–8 weeks of care and rest before Rascal’s wounds heal completely. The legality of the snare trap is unknown.

A woman was walking her dog, Fi, near the rail trail by the Ainsdale Golf Course in the middle of the afternoon. She let Fi loose to run free in a field near a wooded area, about 100 meters from the trail. “The next thing I heard was her screaming and jumping around with a trap on her head,” she said. She ran over to Fi, who was flailing in pain with the trap crushing her muzzle and throat. “Her eyes were bulging and her tongue was out,” she said. “It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen.” Unable to open the trap — she cut herself trying — the woman flagged down a passing snowmobiler who was also unable to free the dog. Fi died while still in the trap, so the woman took her to Kincardine Veterinary Clinic to have them remove it. “She died right in front of me. They had to use bolt cutters to get it off of her neck.” She suspects Fi was led to the trap by bait hidden under a white bucket that was found nearby.

A man was walking his dog near the Ainsdale Golf Course when the puppy caught a foreleg in a trap while running free. The man said he was able to get the trap off “after a very major struggle” and that luckily, none of his dog’s bones were broken.

The 150-pound mountain lion was caught in a neck snare meant for bobcats. North Dakota Game and Fish Department personnel said the cougar “pretty much died immediately.”

The 102-pound mother mountain lion and her 78-pound offspring were caught in neck snares about 100 yards apart. The snares were meant for bobcats. North Dakota Game and Fish Department personnel said the cougars “pretty much died immediately.” Four mountain lions were accidentally trapped last season. Three died, and one, caught in a foot-hold trap, was tranquilized and fitted with a radio collar.

Traps were set illegally on the grounds of a gun club, close to a woman’s house. The head of the gun club puportedly set the traps to harass the woman into giving up her cats. She says that “There are carcasses of wild animals strewn everywhere near my house.” The game warden has refused to help, and no charges have been filed. Vet costs so far are approaching $2,000.

At a viewpoint on Grey Butte, an off-leash trail listed as in many guide books in Oregon. Snowy was caught in the trap for about 5 minutes when three young men came along at the right time and were able to help free her. Snowy survived with few injuries, but was traumatized. Snowy bit her guardian and guardian’s mother in her panic.

Belle was caught in a leghold trap set in a rural populated area with many houses and children. The trap was set legally. Veterinary bills have so far totalled $3,000.00.