Reward offered in Lake Forest Park coyote trapping
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for setting an illegal trap that resulted in the death of a coyote in Lake Forest Park, Wash.
On December 21, a 15-year-old girl who was walking her dog in a wooded area of a watershed discovered a dead coyote in a steel-jawed leghold trap.
The coyote was found at a creek, where she had apparently dragged herself after she managed to pull the trap that gripped her foot loose from the stake that the devices are typically attached to.
Dan Paul, Washington state director for The HSUS, said: “The person responsible for setting this cruel and indiscriminate trap caused the coyote to suffer immensely and, ultimately, to die from exposure. Equally concerning is the risk that a person or family pet could have stumbled into the trap.”
Facts:
- Leghold traps can crush or tear the skin, bones and connective tissue of the victim and render the animal defenseless against the weather and predators. Animals caught in leghold traps sometimes chew or twist off their limbs in their efforts to escape the trap.
- Leghold traps are indiscriminate and can maim or kill any animal that triggers them, including companion animals and threatened or endangered species.
- In 2000, the passage of citizens’ initiative 713 largely outlawed the use of body gripping animal traps – including leghold traps – in Washington state.
- In 2012, the city of Lake Forest Park enacted an ordinance that banned the use of body gripping animal traps.
Anyone with information regarding this case should contact Sgt. Kim Chandler at 425-775-1311, ext. 122. Callers may remain anonymous.
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12 comments:
Can't outlaw heartlessness, but we can encourage individuals to report bad seeds.
Cruelty to animals is a well-known outward symptom of sociopaths. Is the perpetrator's intent to intimidate the neighbors and walkers by displaying the trap and corpse?
Coyotes are dangerous and should not be permitted in a city park. The city should be held liable for any injury or loss they cause.
Seriously? Go ahead, tell the wild animals whose habitat we've taken over that they're not permitted in city parks. The city doesn't command and isn't responsible for WILDLIFE...
Likely someone who lived on property bordering the watershed and has small pets. They should start their investigation there.
Coyotes are nocturnal and are not dangerous. Look it up. Pit bulls are dangerous, coyotes are not. Such ignorance.
Well, coyotes aren't dangerous, unless you are a housecat or small dog. They eat dogs and cats regularly here in my Redmond neighborhood just a mile from Microsoft. A pack of them howling the other night woke up several of my neighbors.
Responsible pet owners bring their dogs and cats in for the night. Waking you neighbors isn't dangerous.
another "fact" would be: animal abuse is now considered a felony.
We had a 'yote in our neighborhood ( UW area) a while back...
I called the cops to see what to do - they said Animal Control is the group to see.
I called them and as soon as I mentioned coyote they said that Fish and Wildlife had authority.
Called THEM and was told that there was only one trap that humanely caught these animals......... but it was illegal in this state.
So much for the compassionate approach.
What's not to love when out of the darkness you hear the songs of nature. It's a gentle reminder that they are out there so be wise.
The Seattle Times story has a little more detail, including the area where the coyote was found...
http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2014/12/reward-offered-in-death-of-coyote-in-lake-forest-park/
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