TFO is a non-profit organization dedicated to getting trapping and poisoning of our wildlife legally banned in Oregon by November 2014.
Animal trapping is inhumane.
Animal rights groups and veterinary associations agree that trapped animals suffer excruciating pain, injury, dehydration, shock, distress, and sometimes drown or freeze to death in traps.
Thousands of "non-target animals" are caught in these indiscriminate death traps every year- including domestic pets, raptors (hawks and eagles), and endangered species.
Be careful- your dog could be killed in as little as 3 minutes by a trap that is almost impossible for the novice to open.
Unsurprisingly, most trappers dismiss such complaints as untrue, exaggerated, unimportant or irrelevant.
Trapping belongs in the Past- Let's make it History.
Oregon has a long tradition of fur trapping. Long ago, when people were scarce and wildlife was abundant it was a viable way to make a living for Oregonians. Now that people are abundant and wildlife is scarce, it just doesn't make sense.
Oregonians love their wild areas. We visit them all through the year for sport and recreation. Hiking, camping, horseback riding, mountain biking, boating, fishing, hunting, bird watching, skiing, and snowshoeing- to name just a few. There is no justification for a handful of trappers (~0.03%) to hold the rest of the population hostage to their deadly devices.
Where are the Traps?
The truth is that there are very few restrictions on where trappers can hide their deadly instruments. Near, or in, the water of ponds, lakes or streams, near well traveled trails- just about anywhere fur-bearing animals might want to go.
Many of these are the very same places you, your children and your pets might want to go as well. Be careful- your dog could be killed in as little as 3 minutes by a trap that is almost impossible for the novice to open.
Traps cause Pain & Suffering
Animal traps close with tremendous force and are very difficult to remove without the correct tools and training. (VIDEO) The reason traps are used is that pelts with bullet holes in them are not commercially viable. The trapper is not required to be physically present to catch an animal so an individual trapper can have hundreds of traps set at any one time. Currently Oregon law recommends that trappers check their traplines "every 48 hours". Since there is little to no enforcement, trappers are free to check their traps whenever they want. An animal can be allowed to suffer excruciating pain for days without food or water- sometimes freeze to death in extreme cold- by a trapper who "gets busy" doing other things, or if the weather turns bad, and doesn't check his line.
About TFO
TrapFree Oregon means to do something about it. A large and growing group of volunteers is devoting significant time to bring an Initiative to the 2014 ballot- and get it passed.
TFO is not against hunting or fishing
Our position WILL be skewed by our opposition to infer that we want to take away Oregonians' guns and ban hunting. This is NOT true and this is clearly stated in our Initiative (section 5). Many of our members are hunters, fisherman, sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts who are not afraid to stand up and fight for change at the state level.
Ranchers can still protect their livestock
A quick reading of our Initiative shows very clearly TFO does not oppose stopping predators in the act of damaging, or attempting to damage, livestock or crops on the rancher's property. This website lists a number of alternative methods for protecting livestock other than wholesale shooting and trapping of predators.
We've got a lot to do, and we could use your help.
Help Us Stop Cruel Trapping...
None of this will happen without your generous, tax-deductible donation.
To join the SUSTAINING CIRCLE of DONORS, please click on "Subscribe" which allows you to make an automatic monthly donation (through 11/4/2014, election day).
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