A lawsuit filed against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources by the Humane Society of the United States that would ban trapping has been dismissed by a federal judge. According to the United States Sportsmen’s Alliance, trapping will continue.
U.S. District Judge Patrick Schiltz dismissed the suit brought by the Humane Society of the United States against the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to ban trapping for abundant game wherever endangered or threatened species exist. The anti’s had argued that since the state holds a population of Canada lynx, a species protected under the Endangered Species Act, all trapping of any species should be stopped to prevent incidental catch of lynx. There is no data proving this to be a problem.
The dismissal was in accordance with a settlement in which the DNR agreed to apply for a federal incidental take permit. The permits are distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for activities that could possibly result in “take” of threatened or endangered species. Trapping will continue while the permit process moves forward.
This should come as good news to trappers in Maine as a similar lawsuit has been filed there by the Animal Protection Institute to ban trapping because of the Canada lynx.
Tom Remington
