Search Trapping Incidents Database

In a wooded area surrounded by homes filled with dogs, cats, birds, and children, Billi was trapped for about 20 hours in the snare trap before being cut loose. The trap was legally set.

Abandoned by his guardians who moved from an apartment complex, Dan disappeared for a week before reappearing dragging the leghold trap. His front paw was almost severed off and had to be amputated. According to the attending veterinarian, Dan had been in the trap for at least 48 hours. Dan is now in the foster care of a volunteer for United Paws of America, a local all-volunteer spay/neuter non-profit group. Police are investigating the source of the trap.

Along a river bank 1/2 mile from home, Maggie and Lokee were trapped in a snare for 55 hours. Maggie lay beside her buddy’s body for over two days before the dogs were found, and her personality is now completely changed. The owner of the trap was never found.

Near a farm in the woods, a man cut his finger while trying to remove a raccoon that he had trapped. The man did not seek treatment at the hospital because of the nature of the incident.

A woman rescued a Red fox that was in a coyote trap. The fox — “a gorgeous adult male weighing 11.6 lbs” — had to have two of his toes surgically removed this afternoon, but he is otherwise ok. Nearby was found a pile of skinned fox carcasses nearby. The trap was illegally set.

A three-week search for a dog caught in a leghold trap ended when local police received a tip that the dog was in a garage at a local residence. The dog, named Holly because the search had extended through the Christmas holidays, had been spotted near the center of town on 12/16/06. Though the leg was not broken, wounds from the prolonged pressure of the trap had penetrated to the bone and could not be repaired. The leg was removed at the shoulder, and a full recovery is expected. At press time the owner of the probably illegal trap had not been indentified.

A leghold trap on National Forest land 25 yards from a road unmaintained in winter that is a popular dog-walking and snow-shoeing and skiing site, Kumo was trapped for 5 minutes. Three trappers run lines along this two mile stretch of popular road, legally using leghold traps and snares.

Pet dog was caught in a trap less than 4 feet off of a trail while trail riding with it’s possessor. About 5 minutes after she was released from the first trap, she was hit in her face by another trap that was triggered. The dog sustained permanent eye damage.

Smoki was caught for several hours in a neighbor’s leghold trap (the second time a cat in this neigborhood has been caught in this neighbors trap). In addition to injuries severe enough to warrant amputation of a hind leg, had a broken jaw, which the veterinarian wired for 3 weeks. Cost: $400 – $500. Authorities said the neighbor “had every right” to have this trap on his property.

Only 150 yards from his home, on private property across a river, Joe died shortly after being caught in the trap. It took 24 hours to locate him. Although avid trail hikers who welcome dogs on their hikes, Joe’s caregivers now feel this activity has been taken away from them. “According to the DNR, there could be hundreds of these [traps] in this area. The traps are hidden in makeshift logs, and baited.” The woman who reported this incident wrote, “My husband and I would be harassed if we spoke out publicly in the area. The majority of the hunters in this area poach and do not follow any specific laws.” The trap was not illegal.