Fur prices are way down. Few trappers will be able to afford to trap for profit this year.
This will mean less animals taken, and more chance of problems with the surplus of animals
ussually removed by trapping.
Trapping is used to help control populations. A healthy level of each and every furbearer
trapped is the goal of Pa game commission. This helps control such things as the spread of
rabbies, and nuisence issues with animals.
In years where the fur prices, make it so that the trapper can not turn a profit, or even
hope to break even, there will be a lot less trappers putting in the time and expense to
trap. Yes there will still be trappers doing there thing, but even many of those that do it
more for the love of the sport, or to carry on a tradition, they will not travel as far,
nor will they put out as many traps.
This will lead to more calls to the game commission about flooding from beaver's in the
spring, to skunks, racoons, and other furbearers getting into trouble with home owners.
The problems will need to be dealt with by animal control people. These people for the most
part are trappers, or were trappers. They use the same traps, same techniques, to catch
and remove the animals. The major differance is, that they charge for there time. They do
not rely on the fur market, and the selling of the animals furs. They charge the home
owners, farmers, or who ever it is that needed the animals removed. There is nothing wrong
with what they do, and they are as necesary, for they often deal with situations that
regular trappers do not, and at times of the year, that trapping seasons are not open.
If you have animals that normally would be trapped, or could legally be trapped, on your
property, or know of an area that has a large no. of those animals, don't hesitate to get
in touch with your local trappers association. They can and will refer your requests to
help with the removal of legal to trap animals. The members of these associations are
sportsman, who have a pledged to follow all laws, and who are knowledgealbe, in the safe,
and humane ways to take these animals.
Animals that are legally trapped in Pa, are beaver, racoon, red and gray fox, coyote,
muskrat, mink, skunk, opossum, and weasels. Bobcat are also legal, but only in certain
area's.

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