P.E.I. woman caught in coyote snare warns trappers to double-check for permission

A woman who got caught in a coyote snare on her own property in western P.E.I. is warning trappers to be more careful about where they set their traps.

Tina Richard has a large property just outside of Tignish, where she is the recreation manager for the town. Her field is separated from her neighbour's by a line of trees. Normally, she said, the property line would run through the middle of that line of trees, but for some historical reason the trees in this case all belong to her family's property.

Richard was in those trees when she got caught in the snare. Fortunately, she was able to slip off her boot and slide her foot out of the trap. She was unhurt, but worries about what might have happened if it had been one or her children or dogs.

"I have nothing against trappers. Just make sure you're on the right property, that people know it's there," she said.

"I just was a little bit upset because I didn't know they were there."

Richard said they found three other snares.

Rare occurrence

P.E.I. conservation officer Wade MacKinnon echoes that reminder.

MacKinnon said there were no charges laid in this incident.

It's rare for anyone to be snagged in a coyote or fox snare, but he said there are ways to break free if it happens.

"There is a locking mechanism on them that holds the snare tight, so it is definitely not going to hurt your foot," he said.

"If you actually lift up on that locking mechanism it will release the tension so you can get your foot out. The other way you can also do it is just untie the snare from the tree."

If a trap is found somewhere it shouldn't be, people should leave the trap there and contact conservation officers, unless it causes an immediate safety risk, MacKinnon said.

"We would have an officer respond and deal with that situation," he said, adding most legal traps and snares on P.E.I. are tagged and the owner can be tracked down.

In past years the concern has been the risk of dogs being caught by accident. There hasn't been a complaint of that this season, MacKinnon said.

"It's something that we do worry about every year. We have had less incidents the last number of years," he said. "I believe that is because there is better education by government and the P.E.I. Trappers Association, you know, informing dog owners and property owners that there may be trapping in the area."

There may be fewer incidents reported this year because there is less trapping happening this season, he said.

"The number of trappers that are participating in trapping this year is down considerably."

He said the price of fur is also down around the world due to the pandemic.

"The fur is not worth a lot so the only real trapping that is going on is, it could be individuals that are trapping on their own properties or individuals that are doing nuisance work. Could be nuisance work for farmers, dealing with coyotes on farms."

P.E.I. is one of the most heavily regulated provinces when it comes to trapping, MacKinnon said.

The season typically runs from Nov. 1 to March 31 for most species, but is shorter for others. Trappers are not allowed to snare on private property, provincial woodlots, provincial parks, the national park and some Island trails, without permission, MacKinnon said.

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