Illegal Traps used at Governor’s Mansion

[Michelle_Nelson]

http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/1123885.html


Groundskeepers at the Capitol have been using illegal body-gripping traps to capture and kill moles, but stopped after complaints and a Department of Fish and Wildlife investigation got under way this morning.

Voters approved Initiative 713 in 2000, outlawing the use of body-gripping traps, including mole traps. Violating the law is a misdemeanor, but Fish and Wildlife enforcement chief Bruce Bjork usually treats the offenses as more of a molehill than a mountain.

He said no citation is likely in this case involving the Department of General Administration, which is typical for when homeowners goof and a neighbor rats them out.

GA spokesman Steve Valandra said groundskeepers have used five to 10 of the illegal traps on campus lawns, including at the Governor’s Mansion, for a few years — apparently unaware of the law. They’ve since pulled out the traps, but will consider getting permits to use legal traps, he said.

Republican state Rep. Joel Kretz of Wauconda brought the issue to light late Monday, taking pictures of two mole traps set into a grassy strip near the Capitol’s greenhouse. He said it showed a double standard he’s often seen in Olympia: “Do as I say, not as I do.’’

“The irony is if I’ve got coyotes killing my sheep I can’t put a trap out. But if you’ve got a mole on the Capitol Campus, you can,’’ Kretz said, suggesting there is a need to change the law so that people protecting their property and crops from animal damage can use traps for that purpose.

Fish and Wildlife spokesman Craig Bartlett said the agency has tried to change the law, but without success. “There have been a number of efforts to amend that law, and we have supported those efforts for moles. We’ve also sought exemptions for mountain beaver, coyotes and other troublesome critters that are hard to trap otherwise,’’ Bartlett said.

Kretz said the incident should be a call for another look at the law by lawmakers and Gov. Chris Gregoire. He blamed former Gov. Gary Locke then Gregoire for inaction. He said Gregoire has had the benefit of State Patrol troopers and trappers in 2006 to deal with raccoon that that bothered her dog.

Bjork said the agency has cited “commercial operators” that used illegal traps, and that the offense is a misdemeanor, subject to penalties up to 90 days jail and $1,000 in fines.

In this case, Bjork said, “We are investigating it. I’ve already talked to the director of GA. They’re well aware of it. They have removed the traps. And we will interview the folks that were involved. And we’ll of course make sure they know it’s a state law violation. We’ll probably give them a warning not to do it again — cease and desist, but we will have it documented.’’

[Michelle_Nelson]

I love the comment about how they have been using them and were unaware of the law.

[bobcat]

That's a law that shouldn't be enforced anyway, and my guess is that mostly they don't enforce it. I'm pretty sure they don't have time to be running down every homeowner with a mole trap in his yard.

[whacker1]

bobcat - it is an obvious case of poorly written initiatives, and now we are required to deal with the unintended consequences, and the government is not exempt from this law.
Ignorance is not an excuse. 

Mr Kretz has been putting a lot of energy into Hypocritical activities, because Olympia is riddled with Hypocrites.  He can't get much done as a rural republican, so he seems to be focusing on exposing the hypocrites. 

All this is of course my opinion

[bobcat]

I don't disagree with you but I just don't care if they were trapping moles at the governor's mansion. It's probably the cheapest way to keep the number of moles down, don't you think? See, they were saving taxpayer's money.

I would probably feel differently if the state has been actively pursuing illegal mole trapping activities, but I'm pretty sure they are not.

[tony04]

i know several people that use those traps and its the only way i know to get them besides a handy .410 when i see the ground moving

[sisu]

Mr. Kretz is my 7th district and I love this guy. He has stones enough to call a spade a spade and not sugar coat it. He and his two partners fight for their voters.

[Kowsrule30]

Figures... I would've gotten the chair.....           

[wolfbait]

Mr. Kretz is my 7th district and I love this guy. He has stones enough to call a spade a spade and not sugar coat it. He and his two partners fight for their voters.

 

[Hangfire]

I hope this stimulates some action to alter the law, so we can legally use traps to protect some property, crops and animals. I know one person, who has tried to control the coyotes taking his sheep all the legal ways, and finally had to go to trapping and the problem resolved. The coyotes got so bold as to come into the pen attached to the barn, by his house, and kill lambs and calves.

I talked to my local Wildlife Agent about trapping pocket gophers.  I was told they had more important things to do, than chase around after mole or pocket gopher trapping.  There has been at least one arrest to a commercial trapper, who was warned before hand.

A friend of mine built a lethal, non body gripping mole trap.  The trap which fits in the tunnel has a mechanical sensor (wire) in the tunnel that when pushed by the mole,  trips a spring which strikes  a nail, which strikes a 12 gauge shot gun shell held in a pipe. This works every time, and is very dangerous and probably illegal under federal law. He built it only to see if he could and no longer uses it.

[bow4elk]

This is what happens when the animal rights freaks push inititiatives that are just plain stupid - a complete and utter waste of tax payer money.  I think they SHOULD be using body-gripping mole traps, and I think everyone else in Washington should too because guess what?  They work really well!   

[Shootmoore]

Maybe they will let me bring one of these downs to get rid of em?  I think I'll email it to them and offer my services.

Gopher Control


Or I could suggest a profesional to em.



Shootmoore

[Al Bundy]

They need to hire Carl Spackler.



"License to kill gophers by the government of the United Nations. Man, free to kill gophers at will. To kill, you must know your enemy, and in this case my enemy is a varmint. And a varmint will never quit - ever. They're like the Viet Cong - Varmint Cong. So you have to fall back on superior intelligence and superior firepower. And that's all she wrote."

[bow4elk]

nevermind the wire...doctor's orders 

[CastleRocker]

Maybe they will let me bring one of these downs to get rid of em?  I think I'll email it to them and offer my services.

Gopher Control


Or I could suggest a profesional to em.



Shootmoore

Those WORK!  I have a friend who bought one and uses it in his fields.  Just make sure you know where their tunnels go and where their air holes are before you hit the striker!  There have been a couple close ones.