LETTER: Anti-trapping initiative is too broad

Circumventing competent science-based wildlife management by ballot initiative which is based on opinion and emotions, not facts, is a grave mistake.

I-177 prohibits trapping on all public lands: city parks and streets, county parks, road rights-of-way, school grounds, along with USFS lands, BLM lands, DNRC lands, wildlife management areas, and national park lands (think Glacier National Park).

This ballot initiative presents a wildlife management issue, not just a trapping issue. We have plenty of laws and regulations that pertain to hunting, trapping and fishing. We already have mandatory setbacks, species specific laws, reporting requirements, best management practices and training for trappers. We also already have an avenue to address wildlife issues; the Montana Fish and Game Commission. Anyone can consult with the commission, with or without a hunting, fishing or trapping license. Wildlife belong to all of us ... by State law.

In my experience, the best wildlife managers have ample experience as trappers. Trapping for research information and for the safety of the public is something wildlife biologists do all the time. How do you think they collar, tag and attach radios to mountain lions, grizzlies, wolves, black bears, coyotes, prairie dogs, swans, sage grouse and bats? How will wildlife biology students learn to trap in college without ample training and experience on public lands? Open your mind to the probability that there will be many unintended consequences to I-177.

I-177 is overly broad and has not been well thought out. Science matters! Vote NO on I-177. —Brent Mitchell, Kalispell