We need to be aware of the antis attacking trapping.
Dear Friend of Methow Valley Wildlife,
This winter while snowshoeing with friends we discovered a line of animal traps in a Methow Wildlife Area site (also a habitat restoration area) along the Methow River; some traps were within sight of Highway 20. After some investigation we found that an annual trapping permit costs $41.60 and at the end of the five-month trapping season a trapper reports how many individuals of ten species were "harvested." Some of those species are marten, mink, beaver and bobcat. Animals are caught in baited live traps and then shot to preserve their fur, or in Koro or rodent snap traps which kill by a blow to the head, or by drowning. In an effort to find out how much trapping is done in the Methow Valley we filed the first of two public disclosure requests in February. We have received no data yet. Are there population studies of the ten species that inhabit our riparian areas? How can we humans "protect, restore and enhance habitats" (WDFW press release) if we don't know the facts?
I am writing to you because our local WDFW employees are underfunded and are working with a set of rules and guidelines that no longer reflect the scientific knowledge we hold about flora and fauna and their interdependence. We have many habitat restoration sites in the Methow Valley (see attached list). We encourage the animals to move into a restoration area, and then we trap them. In addition to the ethical issues involved there are huge financial and time commitments made for each restoration project.
We wrote a letter to the WDFW Commissioners expressing our concerns about trapping and our desire to work with WDFW to make policy and rules changes. That letter is attached to the bottom of this email.
If you want to express your views there is a Methow Wildlife Area Management Plan Workshop on June 28th from 6-8 p.m. at the Winthrop Barn. You may provide feedback about recreational and wildlife management opportunities by participating in an online survey at
https://publicinput.com/R2352. The following link will connect you with WDFW Commissioners and their meeting agendas, and how to contact them:
https://wdfw.wa.gov/about/commission/meetings/2022/23-25june2022-fwc-agenda.
Thank you for reading. If you have any questions please email or phone. One living being does not thrive without affecting other living beings. It's time to stop "managing our wildlife resources" and start caring for our habitats.
Carpe Diem,
Linda Machia
509-997-0705
lmach53@gmail.com
PS: You are receiving this because I met you at a gathering or a potluck or just around town. I took a chance that some of the folks might be interested in this issue.
To: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commissioners
From: Linda Machia and Jan Sodt
Re: Wildlife Trapping in Riparian Areas and Stream Restoration Sites
Date: June 2, 2022
As permanent residents of Washington State, we respectfully request that the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commissioners place a moratorium on
trapping in riparian areas, including stream and habitat restoration areas that are located on public lands, while the Department and Commissioners gather data and consider a permanent ban. These measures are necessary to preserve threatened species and to avoid undermining stream and river restoration efforts while the long-term impacts of trapping are studied.
Part of the statutory mandate of the Department and the Commission is to preserve, protect, perpetuate and manage the wildlife of the state of Washington. And while the Department may authorize the taking of wildlife, it must be done at times and places, or in manners and quantities that the Department judges does not impair the supply of these resources (RCW 77.04.012). The extent to which trapping impairs the supply of fur-bearing mammals, in particular species that are critical to the health of riparian eco-systems, must be considered by the Department and Commissioners.
Throughout the State of Washington, most trappers trap in or very near to riparian areas. According to the Department’s website, “[Al]though riparian systems make up a small share of the state’s land area, they provide a disproportionate amount of Washington’s fish and wildlife habitat. More than three-quarters of Washington’s land-based species use riparian areas as habitat. For this reason, riparian ecosystems are designated as priority habitat.”
Most of our State’s streams and rivers have been negatively impacted for centuries by agriculture, intense resource extraction (mineral, plant, and animal), dam construction, erosion, and overgrazing by domestic livestock. Every one of these impacts has reduced stream channel complexity and led to the degradation and loss of habitat quality and abundance. These impacts are being exacerbated by an increase in the number, frequency, and intensity of large wildfires and subsequent erosion, and changing patterns of precipitation and temperature due to climate change and human interference. Trappers continue to harvest American badger, beaver, bobcat, mink, muskrat, raccoon, red fox, river otter, marten, and long-tailed and short-tailed weasel, notwithstanding these negative impacts on these species and their habitats.
The extirpation of beavers by trapping is one example of the consequences of human interference on riparian areas located on public lands. As studies have shown, beavers maintain and improve riparian areas. According to the Washington Department of Ecology’s website:
Beavers are a critical asset in Washington, assuring that healthy riparian zones are maintained, especially in the dry climate east of the Cascades. Beaver dams and ponds support endangered salmon and other riparian dependent threatened and endangered species, native vegetation and wetlands along streams, trap sediment, recharge groundwater, and improve water quality.
Yet, each year, the Department issues permits to Washington State residents – at $41.60 per permit – to trap diverse wildlife, including beavers, that is attracted to these riparian areas. This negates efforts to restore riparian ecosystems that are designated as priority habitats.
Over the past twenty plus years, millions of public and private dollars have been spent to restore Washington’s watersheds and stream habitats for fish and wildlife. Federal and State agencies, as well as private and non-profit organizations, have been and continue to spend millions of dollars on riparian area restoration efforts. Attached to this letter is a list of examples that demonstrate the hard work, time, money and other resources spent on restoration. These efforts are undermined by trapping, which has no offsetting value to the citizens of the State.
In addition to the reasons discussed above, we are not at all sure that the Department has actual local and scientifically based population estimates of the species being trapped under its current management plan. After we were unable to find information on the WDFW website pertaining to population studies and management of the species that are trapped in Washington State or the extent of “harvest” of those species or other impacts of trapping, we filed public records requests. Our efforts began with the first public disclosure request on February 10, 2022. To date, the only communication from the Department's Public Records Officer has been to notify us that the Department needs more time to produce these public records. Our second request for a different set of data was submitted on May 23, 2022. We believe the records requested will supply valuable data to the public and the Commission as it considers our request to restrict trapping in riparian areas. Please see the attached copies of the two public disclosure requests we filed with the Department.
Finally, we would ask the Commission to revise the current trapping regulations in a manner that addresses restoration efforts in individual GMU’s, taking into account species’ population densities, existence of existing species monitoring groups, such as beaver management groups, and annual recommendations from WFDW's fur-bearing monitoring effort. In addition, we request that you also consider the ramifications of allowing trapping of species that use similar habitats, and indeed, may resemble those species that are currently on the threatened and endangered species list (e.g., lynx, fisher, Pacific pine marten).
One simple and immediately relevant action the Commission could take is to direct the Department to remove the recipes section of the outdated trapping booklet entitled “Trapper Education in Washington State” and replace it with a science-based discussion of keystone species, wildlife and fish restoration efforts, and how trappers should be mindful of their impacts. (Note: the most recent article cited from the bibliography is from 1983).
We realize the enormity of changing traditional trapping practices. We understand some of the limits on WDFW staff. But it's time to start using the research and data the Department already has, and where there are gaps, direct further research, to fully understand the impact of trapping and alter our state’s trapping regulations to account for changes in the environment and priorities of the State’s citizens. It's time to honor the hard work by WDFW staff and so many agencies working on river and habitat restoration projects.
We appreciate your consideration of the time, effort and money involved in rebuilding our State's riparian areas. We look forward to further communication and discussion.
Linda Machia Jan Sodt
Linda Machia Jan Sodt
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 43146
Office Location: 1111 Washington Street S.E.
Olympia, Washington 98501-3137
Telephone (360) 706-3325
PublicDisclosureRequest@dfw.wa.gov
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC RECORD
NOTE: The Department of Fish and Wildlife may impose charges for providing copies of public records (RCW 42.56.120)
1. REQUESTOR'S NAME: Linda Machia
COMPANY/ FIRM:
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 754 Twisp/WA 98856
Street/Box City/State Zip Code
EMAIL: lmach53@gmail.com TELEPHONE: 509-997-0705
2. PLEASE DESCRIBE THE RECORDS YOU ARE REQUESTING AND PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WILL
ASSIST US IN LOCATING IDENTIFIABLE RECORDS. PLEASE BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE PROVIDE TIMELINE
(DATE/YEAR TO DATE/YEAR); CASE NUMBER(S); CLEARLY AND CORRECTLY SPELLED NAMES OF PARTIES INVOLVED.
PROVIDING SPECIFIC INFORMATION WILL ALLOW US TO PROCESS YOUR REQUEST MORE EFFICIENTLY.
(1) All records that show the number of trapping licenses sold by WDFW in the State of Washington in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022.
(2) All records that show the total revenue generated by the sale of trapping licenses in the State of Washington for each year listed in (1) above.
(3) Average salary and job description of one WDFW wildlife enforcement officer in 2022.
(4) All studies, documents, reports used by WDFW to determine the number of animals that habitats can support throughout the year without damaging the habitat (carrying capacity).
(5) All “Licensed Trapper & Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) Annual Activity Report Forms” submitted to WDFW in the State of Washington in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
3. RECORDS WILL BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.
X0 Electronic 0 Photocopy 0 CD 0 Inspection
NOTE: FEE ESTIMATES WILL BE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE OF PRODUCTION
4. PURPOSE FOR WHICH INFORMATION IS REQUESTED*:
To determine the cost for WDFW to oversee trapping in the state of WA. To ascertain whether and how WDFW has determined “carrying capacity” in the habitats where trapping is legal in WA state.
CERTIFICATION THAT LISTS OF INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
I understand that pursuant to RCW 42.56.070(
, WDFW is prohibited from releasing lists of individuals if such lists will be used for “commercial purposes.” “Commercial purposes” has been interpreted to mean “any business activity intended to generate profits,” SEIU Healthcare 775NW v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 193 Wn. App. 377 (2016), and includes business activity “by any form of business enterprise intended to generate revenue or financial benefit,” Id., including not-for-profit entities.
I hereby certify that any list of individuals provided to me by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will not be used for commercial purpose. I further certify that I will protect any list of individuals provided to me by WDFW from access by anyone who may use it for commercial purposes.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct.
Linda Machia May 23, 2022
Signature of Requestor Date
* Requests for lists of individuals may require additional information to verify that the list is not for commercial purpose.
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 43146
Office Location: 1111 Washington Street S.E.
Olympia, Washington 98501-3137
Telephone (360) 706-3325
PublicDisclosureRequest@dfw.wa.gov
REQUEST FOR PUBLIC RECORD
NOTE: The Department of Fish and Wildlife may impose charges for providing copies of public records (RCW 42.56.120)
1. REQUESTOR'S NAME: Linda Machia
COMPANY/ FIRM:
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 754 Twisp, WA 98856
Street/Box City/State Zip Code
EMAIL: lmach53@gmail.com TELEPHONE: 509-997-0705
2. PLEASE DESCRIBE THE RECORDS YOU ARE REQUESTING AND PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION THAT WILL
ASSIST US IN LOCATING IDENTIFIABLE RECORDS. PLEASE BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE PROVIDE TIMELINE
(DATE/YEAR TO DATE/YEAR); CASE NUMBER(S); CLEARLY AND CORRECTLY SPELLED NAMES OF PARTIES INVOLVED.
PROVIDING SPECIFIC INFORMATION WILL ALLOW US TO PROCESS YOUR REQUEST MORE EFFICIENTLY.
(1) Any/all reports or documents that include the names and trapper id numbers of licensed trappers trapping in the following areas for the following time periods:
Areas: in or around Twisp, Mazama, Winthrop, Carlton WA (otherwise known as the Methow Valley).
Time Periods: 11/1/19 – 3/31/20 and 11/1/20 – 3/31/21 and 11/1/2021 to 2/10/22.
(2) Any/all reports or documents that include any violations of WA state trapping laws and/or regulations for the time periods and areas listed in (1) above.
(3) All “Licensed Trapper & Wildlife Control Operator (WCO) Annual Activity Report Forms” submitted to WDFW for the time periods of 11/1/19 - 3/31/20 and 11/1/20 – 3/31/21 in the areas listed in number (1) above. (Note: these forms may contain the information requested in number (1) above.
3. RECORDS WILL BE PROVIDED ELECTRONICALLY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.
X Electronic 0 Photocopy 0 CD 0 Inspection
NOTE: FEE ESTIMATES WILL BE PROVIDED IN ADVANCE OF PRODUCTION
4. PURPOSE FOR WHICH INFORMATION IS REQUESTED*:
(1) Gather information pertaining to the number and identity of persons engaged in trapping in the areas listed above during the time periods listed above;
(2) Gather information pertaining to violations of trapping laws and regulations for the time periods and in the areas listed above;
(3) Gather information pertaining to the number of species that are being trapped by *activity codes listed on the WCO annual activity report forms (*species euthanized, none captured, released on site, relocated, other).
CERTIFICATION THAT LISTS OF INDIVIDUALS WILL NOT BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES
I understand that pursuant to RCW 42.56.070(
, WDFW is prohibited from releasing lists of individuals if such lists will be used for “commercial purposes.” “Commercial purposes” has been interpreted to mean “any business activity intended to generate profits,” SEIU Healthcare 775NW v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 193 Wn. App. 377 (2016), and includes business activity “by any form of business enterprise intended to generate revenue or financial benefit,” Id., including not-for-profit entities.
I hereby certify that any list of individuals provided to me by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will not be used for commercial purpose. I further certify that I will protect any list of individuals provided to me by WDFW from access by anyone who may use it for commercial purposes.
I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct.
Linda Machia February 10, 2022
Signature of Requestor Date
* Requests for lists of individuals may require additional information to verify that the list is not for commercial purpose.
