Fur Hunt Trap

and trapping cause animals to become endangered? . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> .Page 4 Are fur hunting and trapping regulated in any way? . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> .Page 6 True and false questions about fur hunting and trapping in Illinios . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .Page 8 Do fur hunting and trapping keep wildlife from becoming overpopulated?<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> .Page 10 Do fur hunting and trapping reduce wildlife damage to human property? . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> .Page 12 Are the animals trapped only for their fur? Why do some people want to ban fur hunting and trapping? .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> .Page 14 Rendering: The invisible industry Facts about hunting and trapping in Illinios . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> . . .<br><br> .Page 15 2 Is it legal to hunt and trap animals in Illinois? Hunting and trapping are legal in Illinois 4but only for certain kinds of animals. Out of the 60 mammals in Illinios, 14 are classified as furbearers and only 12 of these may be legally trapped or hunted.<br><br> Badger " Beaver " Coyote " Muskrat " Mink " Opossum Red Fox " Gray Fox " Long-tailed Weasel " Least Weasel Striped Skunk " Raccoon Note: Some species can only be trapped, others can be trapped or hunted. For more information go to http://dnr.state.il.usfor up-to-date hunting and trapping regulations. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides trapper education courses that teach people the proper techniques and equipment to use in order to trap safely and humanely.<br><br> These courses emphasize laws, regulations, and responsible behavior. The Wildlife Society is an international organization of trained wildlife conservation professionals who dedicate their lives to ensuring the welfare of wildlife. These professionals believe that cregulated trapping is a safe, efficient, and practical means of capturing individual animals without impairing the survival of furbearer populations or damaging the environment. d Harvest information from hunters and trappers also assists scientific research that helps wildlife biologists better understand and conserve wildlife.<br><br> The Wildlife Society endorses fur hunting and trapping Illinios DNR 3 Do fur hunting and trapping cause wildlife populations to become endangered? Some people mistakenly believe that hunting and trapping cause animal populations to become endangered. Hunting and trapping are allowed only for animals that are abundant 4 hunting and trapping do not cause wildlife to become endangered.<br><br> Since the advent of modern wildlife management, hunting and trapping have never caused a single animal population to become endangered or extinct. Most of the hunted and trapped ani- mals in Illinois are capable of having numerous offspring in a short time. For instance, each female muskrat is capable of having up to 3 litters of young in a single year, and each lit- ter may contain 5 to 10 young!<br><br> However, because of predators, dis- ease, and starvation, fewer than 1 out of every 4 young survives in a typical year. The large number of muskrats born each year provides a renewable resource that people can use. There are more muskrats born than the habitat can support, so hunting and trapping simply remove some of the individuals that probably would have died anyway due to other causes.<br><br> Raccoons are more plentiful in Illinois than ever before, as witnessed by the increase in nuisance raccoon reports throughout the state. Raccoons, raccoons, raccoons Professional wildlife biologists with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have found that populations of hunted and trapped wildlife commonly used for fur have remained stable for many years and that several populations have actually increased. The most striking example is the raccoon.<br><br> Biologists estimate that there are more raccoons in the state of Illinois today than there have ever been. © Bob Gress 4 River otters rebound River otters were once virtually gone from Illinois. However, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources began releasing otters in 1994 and has successfully restored them in the state 9s rivers and streams.<br><br> These relocated otters were caught in Louisiana, where they are plentiful. They were caught using the very same foothold traps and methods that are commonly used by Illinois trappers. This successful reintroduction of a species shows that the techniques and equipment used by responsible trappers are safe, effective, and as humane as possible.<br><br> The Illinois Department of Natural Resources was able to successfully restore river otter populations using trapping methods commonly used by Illinois trappers. © Bob Gress 5 Are fur hunting and trapping regulated in any way? Some people have the misconception that hunters and trappers are allowed to pursue these activities any way they choose 4without restrictions.<br><br> In Illinois, there are more than 75 laws and regulations that specifically regulate fur hunting and trapping, and federal laws and regulations apply as well. Of the hundreds of different kinds of wildlife that live in Illinois, only a handful can be legally hunted or trapped, and these are plentiful. Since the advent of modern wildlife management, it has never been legal to hunt or trap rare or endangered wildlife, and there are severe penalties for violations.<br><br> Hunting and trapping are only allowed for a short time period each year, and the seasons are set to coincide with animal life cycles. For instance, trapping is not allowed during late spring and summer when animals are giving birth to and raising their young. There also are restrictions on where traps can be placed.<br><br> They are not allowed on roadways, rights of way, or near buildings without landowner 9s permission. Professional wildlife biologists from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources continually monitor wildlife populations and set seasons to ensure the health of the wildlife resources. There are restrictions on the techniques and equipment that can be used to harvest fur bearers, to make the methods as selective and humane as possible.<br><br> The large bear traps with iron teeth seen in museums and antique shops have been illegal to use in Illinois for more than a quarter century. Modern traps have smooth surfaces and are sized to the animal being trapped. 6 Illinois Conservation Police Officers enforce the more than 75 laws and regulations that apply to fur hunting and trapping in Illinios.<br><br> Monica Hardy / D.J. Case & Associates Trapping is a serious commitment. When a trapper buys a license and sets a trap, he or she is bound by law to check that trap at least once each day.<br><br> The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides trapper education courses for the public, and encourages all trappers to participate. These courses teach people how to trap in the most selective and humane way possible, and they stress responsible trapper behavior. First time trappers under the age of 18 are required to pass one of these courses before they can buy licenses.<br><br> The Department continually reviews rules, regulations and education programs and as needed makes changes to ensure the humaneness of trapping. 7 True and false questions about fur hunting and trapping in Illinois True or False? It is legal to hunt and trap some kinds of wildlife in Illinois.<br><br> Q 4 True False Q There are 12 kinds of wildlife that may be hunted or trapped by properly licensed individuals. True or False? Hunting and trapping in Illinois may lead wildlife populations to become endangered or extinct.<br><br> Q True False Q 4 Since the introduction of modern wildlife management, none of the wildlife populations that are hunted or trapped has become endangered. In fact, some wildlife are more numerous now than ever before. True or False?<br><br> Hunters and trappers must obtain licenses before they can pursue these activities. Q 4 True False Q Trapping without a license is a Class B misdemeanor. Fines and jail terms are assigned by the courts.<br><br> True or False? Citizens can obtain professional training in safe, responsible, and humane hunting and trapping techniques. Q 4 True False Q To hunt in the state, anyone born after January 1, 1980 must participate in a hunter education course.<br><br> To trap in Illinois, anyone under the age of 18 must take a trapper education course. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides hunting and trapping education courses to anyone who has an interest. 8 True or False?<br><br> There are numerous laws and regulations that control the methods and equipment that can be used for hunting and trapping in Illinois. Q 4 True False Q Illinois Conservation Police Officers enforce these regulations throughout the state. True or False?<br><br> Hunters and trappers help pay for the conservation of wildlife in Illinois. Q 4 True False Q License fees and taxes on certain kinds of sporting equipment are used to manage all of Illinois 9 wildlife populations 4not just the ones that are hunted or trapped. True or False?<br><br> Regulated hunting and trapping can be effective tools in the proper management of wildlife populations. Q 4 True False Q Hunting and trapping can help maintain a balance between wildlife and people. In some situations, they can help keep wildlife from becoming overpopulated.<br><br> True or False? Hunters and trappers are the only ones who benefit from their activities. Q True False Q 4 Most of society benefits 4directly or indirectly 4from hunting and trapping.<br><br> These activities help keep wildlife populations at acceptable levels, reduce wildlife damage to human property, provide funds for all wildlife conservation, and provide numerous materials and products for human use. 9 Do fur hunting and trapping keep wildlife from becoming overpopulated? Regulated hunting and trapping provide many benefits to the wildlife and people in Illinois, especially in helping maintain a balance between wildlife and peo- ple.<br><br> When wild animals become too numerous, they can cause problems for humans as well as their own populations. Take muskrats as an example. If left unchecked, muskrats will reproduce rapidly, eventually eating most of the available food in their wetland habitat.<br><br> The habitat can only provide enough cattails and other foods to support a limited number of muskrats. The inevitable result is extreme stress and competition within the population, possibly followed by mass starvation, in which only a few individuals survive. Wildlife overpopulation may also lead to disease and parasitism.<br><br> As animals become more and more crowded together, the incidence of disease often increases. Large die-offs due to disease are not uncommon under these circumstances. When a wildlife population gets too numerous, the incidence of disease and parasitism often increases.<br><br> Disease, parasitism, and starvation are nature 9s ways of keeping the population in check. George Hubert, Jr. 10 Starvation and disease are several examples of nature 9s ways of keeping a dynamic balance among the plants and animals in the natural world.<br><br> The problem is that these peaks and valleys in wildlife populations may have far-reaching impacts. When muskrats strip a wetland area of its vegetation, that has a tremendous negative impact on all sorts of other wildlife that also depend on the wetland for survival. In some situations, fur hunting and trapping can help maintain muskrat and other wildlife populations at levels that prevent boom and bust cycles.<br><br> The desired result is to keep wildlife populations at levels that the habitat can support from year to year. Professional wildlife biologists constantly monitor these levels and establish appropriate regulations and restrictions to achieve those ends. 11 Fur hunting and trapping help keep muskrat populations at levels that the habitat can support.<br><br> © Bob Gress Do fur hunting and trapping reduce wildlife damage to human property? In some situations, fur hunting and trapping help keep wildlife populations in balance with their habitats, reducing human/wildlife interactions and minimizing damage to human property. When wildlife populations become too large, the likelihood of interactions withhumansincreases.<br><br> In Illinois there are more than 80,000 nuisance wildlife complaints every year. Common complaints include such things as raccoons damaging houses and living in chimneys, deer eating crops, and beavers damaging ornamental trees and building dams that flood lawns, roads, and farm fields. Overpopulation may also lead to outbreaks of disease among wildlife, creating the possibility that sick animals may spread disease to domestic animals and household pets.<br><br> On the other side of the coin, wild animals can also pick up diseases from domestic animals that can decimate wild populations. In some situations, fur hunting and trapping help keep wildlife populations in balance with their habitats, reducing human/wildlife interactions and minimizing dam- age to human property. © Bob Gress 12 Hunting and trapping cannot completely eliminate wildlife dam- age problems for people.<br><br> However, these activities can help solve local- ized problems and in some situations help stabilize wildlife populations on a broader scale 4 helping to maintain a healthy bal- ance between wildlife and people. Hunters and trappers help pay for conservation of the wildlife in Illinois through license fees and special taxes. This money goes toward the conservation of all of Illinois 9 wildlife, not just fur bearers.<br><br> Hunters and trappers contribute more than 16 million dollars every year for wildlife conservation in Illinois. These contributions benefit everyone who enjoys the natural resources of our state. Through special taxes and license fees, hunters and trappers annually contribute more than $16 million to wildlife conservation in Illinois.<br><br> Illinois DNR 13 Hunters and trappers help pay for wildlife conservation Are the animals trapped only for their fur? It is a common misconception that the pelt or fur is the only part of the animal used by fur hunters and trappers. Actually, nearly the entire animal is used.<br><br> In some cases, the meat from animals such as raccoons and beavers is used for food. However, most of the animals caught by fur hunters and trappers are sold to fur buyers in rural communities across the state. These fur buyers commonly prepare the fur for resale, market other useful parts of the animals, and send the rest to animal by-productsfacilities.<br><br> Many people have no idea just how many products they use every day come from wild and domestic animals. In addition to the obvious things such as fur garments and coat lining, there are literally hundreds of other items that are made at least in part of animal products, including soap, pet food, livestock feed, paint, tires, textiles, construction materials, and mink oil, to name a few. Why do some people want to ban fur hunting and trapping?<br><br> Some people believe that animals have the same rights as humans 4 that it 9s wrong to use animals for any purpose. Some people don 9t believe in eating meat or eggs, using animals for medical research, wearing leather or fur, owning pets, and in some cases, don 9t even believe in controlling insect pests in the home. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources does not share this philosophy.<br><br> Instead, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources believes that, with careful stewardship, the wildlife populations of Illinois can be conserved and used for the benefit of society. 14 Rendering is the name for the process by which animal fat or tallow is processed into a variety of products that are used everyday by millions of people around the world. Many of the animals that are trapped are made available to the rendering industry, where they are used in the production of many products that benefit society, including soap, livestock feed, paint, tires, ice cream, textiles, and construction materials.<br><br> Rendering: The invisible industry " Of the 61 species of mammals in Illinois, 12 are legal to hunt or trap for fur " Hunters and trappers must be properly licensed to legally hunt or trap " About 300,000 people are licensed to hunt and trap in Illinois each year " Many trappers sell the animals they catch to fur buyers who utilize the entire animal for products for human use " Hunters and trappers contribute about $16 million per year to wildlife conservation in Illinois through license fees and taxes on equipment " Since the advent of scientifically based wildlife management, no hunted or trapped animal population in the United States has ever become endangered or extinct Many commonly used household items such as soap and paint are made at least in part of animal products. © Phil Seng / D.J.Case & Assoc. Facts about fur hunting and trapping in Illinios The Illinois Department of Natural Resources receives federal financial assistance and therefore must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws.<br><br> Equal opportunity to participate in programs of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and those funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other agencies is available to all individuals regardless of race, sex, national origin, disability, age, religion, or other non-merit factors. If you believe you have been discriminated against, contact the funding source 9s civil rights office and/or the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, IDNR, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702-1271, (217) 785-0067, TTY 217-782-9175.<br><br> 15

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