Keeping Your Dog Safe on Alaska’s Winter Trails
Heidi Hatcher from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game demonstrates how a body-grip trap ensnares a (stuffed) animal. Photo by Anna Somers.
by Anna Somers
For dog owners in the Copper River Valley, it’s important to have a basic knowledge of animal traps in case your pet ever gets caught in one. Because of the prevalence of trappers in the area, it’s not uncommon for someone’s dog to get stuck in a trap or snare, and dog owners who are regularly recreating outside in winter should be aware of basic precautions to keep their pets safe.
On Saturday, January 25, concerned pet owners were invited to a Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE) lecture series on trapping and pet safety at the Prince William Sound extension campus in Glennallen. The discussion was led by Heidi Hatcher, a trapper, dog owner, and Glennallen area biologist who has worked for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game for over a decade.
The presentation included a basic introduction to the different types of traps (some which catch an animal by the foot and some which catch the entire animal) and snares (which go around an animal’s neck) and how to react if your pet gets stuck.
To prevent snare injuries, Hatcher recommends carrying sharp-nosed wire cutters if you’re recreating outside in winter with your pet. Since in a worst-case scenario, you will have to react in under a few minutes if your animal is stuck in a snare, wire-cutters could be a life-saving tool to have available.
Assistant wildlife biologist Jack Cornish stands on both ends of a foothold trap to demonstrate how to release your dog’s paw if caught. Photo by Anna Somers.
For a foothold trap, there are levers on one or either side of the trap that will release your dog’s paw if it’s stuck, however it can be hard to release them by hand, especially if you don’t have a hard surface to work with for leverage. Hatcher carries a small avalanche shovel that can be placed under a foothold trap if the snow on the ground is too soft to press against. She also demonstrated how using a dog leash wrapped around a specific part of the trap can give you mechanical advantage if you’re unable to release the levers with your hands or feet.
The largest type of trap that poses dangers to area dogs is a body-grip trap, which are designed to kill larger wildlife like coyotes, wolves, or lynx. These traps have similar levers that can be released with your hands, feet, or a dog leash, however they’re larger and can require more strength to activate.
To give your dog the best chance of staying safe on winter trails, it’s best to know the signs that traps may be nearby. Many trappers will mark trapping trails with signs or flagging tape. If you see a CD hanging from a tree branch, or you smell rancid meat, this can also be a sign that traps are near.
In some regions, trappers are not required to post the location of their traps. The trapper’s code of ethics states that trappers must “promote trapping methods that will reduce the possibility of catching non target animals,” (i.e. domestic pets), but pet owners would be prudent to have a passing knowledge of how traps and snares work in case your dog is ever caught.
Pet-owners who encounter traps are encouraged to fill out an incident report on the Alaska Wildlife Alliance “Map the Trap” webpage. This helps the Alliance to collect information and also serves as warnings so people can know if an area where they plan to recreate has an abundance of trapping incidents. The Alliance’s goal is to ensure that both trappers and dog-owners can continue to use Alaska’s trails safely.
Heidi Hatcher from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game demonstrates how to use a dog leash for mechanical leverage when releasing a pet from a body-grip trap. Photo by Anna Somers.
For dog owners who want to see the different ways to release a pet from a trap or snare, the Alaska Trappers Association has an online video called “Sharing Alaska’s Trails.” The Alaska Department of Fish and Game also has online videos, an online PDF, and a brochure at their office that demonstrates how to release your dog from the various types of ensnarement.
The next WISE lecture is about bison in the Copper Basin and will be held at 7 pm on Friday, February 28 at the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Visitor Center.
You can find a list of all upcoming WISE science lectures on their website at wise-edu.org.