by Art Jones
Much of Canada's history is tied to the wild fur industry.
Thetrade in furs quickly developed into Canada's first industry and provided major economic and social gains for the early colonists. Trappers searching for furs explored and mapped many regions of Canada and paved the way for European settlement.
This 400-year-old tradition continues today with over 100,000 Canadian trappers producing around $60-million worth of raw fur. The jobs and products created by manufacturing, sales, transportation and equipment generate over $600-million for the Canadian economy.
Approximately 3,200 Saskatchewan people have a licence to trap. They sell close to $2 million worth of raw fur every year. Trappers who live in the north often use trapping as their main source of income while those in the south are usually rural residents who use trapping to supplement income from other sources.
"Saskatchewan's 19 fur-bearing species are a renewable resource. Proper conservation and humane trapping practices will ensure the resource and the trapping industry will remain viable for a long time to come." says Saskatchewan Environment Conservation Officer Doug Lucyshyn.
"Trappers have to follow seasons and regulations and, by doing so, help to manage the size of the wild populations of fur-bearing animals."
The province is divided into two "trapping blocks", the Northern Fur Conservation Area and the South Saskatchewan Open Trapping Area. The northern area is further divided into Fur Conservation Blocks. Each Block has a limited number of trappers who must trap in their Fur Conservation Block.
Trappers in the south may trap anywhere provided they get written permission from the landowner, the occupant of the land or the controlling government agency. The exceptions are National Parks and First Nations land. Trapping is permitted in Provincial Parks with permission from the park manager or if being used as a management tool.
"In the southern areas of the province trappers often help farmers and ranchers by controlling animals such as coyotes that prey on domestic livestock or beavers which can cause property damage by flooding large areas," says Environment's Lucyshyn.
"Trappers in the south who use snares must also notify everyone who lives within a 1.6 kilometre radius around the snares and their locations. They also have to put up signs on any quarter sections where snares are set, advising people they have to get permission from the owner or occupant before going on the land. Even so, it is important for people to remember it is up to them to ensure that any area is safe before they, their families and their pets go into an area."
Recent changes to trapping technology have resulted in more humane trapping methods being used in Canada that meet international standards. The Saskatchewan Trappers Association offers humane trapping education courses, which teach people how to ensure that no animal suffers unnecessarily and that pelts bring the best market value.
First time trappers have to pass a test and be a graduate of the provincial Firearm Safety/Hunter Education program. "
For more information contact:
Doug Lucyshyn
Conservation Officer
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 933-8377
dlucyshyn@serm.gov.sk.ca
Or
Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca
Much of Canada's history is tied to the wild fur industry.
Thetrade in furs quickly developed into Canada's first industry and provided major economic and social gains for the early colonists. Trappers searching for furs explored and mapped many regions of Canada and paved the way for European settlement.
This 400-year-old tradition continues today with over 100,000 Canadian trappers producing around $60-million worth of raw fur. The jobs and products created by manufacturing, sales, transportation and equipment generate over $600-million for the Canadian economy.
Approximately 3,200 Saskatchewan people have a licence to trap. They sell close to $2 million worth of raw fur every year. Trappers who live in the north often use trapping as their main source of income while those in the south are usually rural residents who use trapping to supplement income from other sources.
"Saskatchewan's 19 fur-bearing species are a renewable resource. Proper conservation and humane trapping practices will ensure the resource and the trapping industry will remain viable for a long time to come." says Saskatchewan Environment Conservation Officer Doug Lucyshyn.
"Trappers have to follow seasons and regulations and, by doing so, help to manage the size of the wild populations of fur-bearing animals."
The province is divided into two "trapping blocks", the Northern Fur Conservation Area and the South Saskatchewan Open Trapping Area. The northern area is further divided into Fur Conservation Blocks. Each Block has a limited number of trappers who must trap in their Fur Conservation Block.
Trappers in the south may trap anywhere provided they get written permission from the landowner, the occupant of the land or the controlling government agency. The exceptions are National Parks and First Nations land. Trapping is permitted in Provincial Parks with permission from the park manager or if being used as a management tool.
"In the southern areas of the province trappers often help farmers and ranchers by controlling animals such as coyotes that prey on domestic livestock or beavers which can cause property damage by flooding large areas," says Environment's Lucyshyn.
"Trappers in the south who use snares must also notify everyone who lives within a 1.6 kilometre radius around the snares and their locations. They also have to put up signs on any quarter sections where snares are set, advising people they have to get permission from the owner or occupant before going on the land. Even so, it is important for people to remember it is up to them to ensure that any area is safe before they, their families and their pets go into an area."
Recent changes to trapping technology have resulted in more humane trapping methods being used in Canada that meet international standards. The Saskatchewan Trappers Association offers humane trapping education courses, which teach people how to ensure that no animal suffers unnecessarily and that pelts bring the best market value.
First time trappers have to pass a test and be a graduate of the provincial Firearm Safety/Hunter Education program. "
For more information contact:
Doug Lucyshyn
Conservation Officer
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 933-8377
dlucyshyn@serm.gov.sk.ca
Or
Art Jones
Communications Consultant
Saskatchewan Environment
(306) 787-5796
(306) 536-8452 (cell)
ajones@serm.gov.sk.ca
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