For the third year in a row, NH biologists are seeking the assistance of local licensed trappers with submitting carcasess of trapped/hunted specimens for disease study.
After successful fundraising efforts from a dedicated group of local hunters, the NH Wildlife Heritage Foundation secured funding for a comprehensive study to investigate distemper (CDV) impacts on New Hampshire’s furbearers last year. The department initially requested turn-in of carcasses from grey foxes hunted or trapped during the legal hunting and trapping seasons.
This year, that study has now expanded to include a desire for carcasses from both Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) and Gray Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), well as Fisher (Pekania pennanti).
Tissue samples from taken animals will be submitted for testing to determine the presence of canine distemper virus in these species. Scientists prefer fresh carcasses over frozen - due to the potential for tissue damage in frozen specimens.
Regulated hunting and trapping seasons have been heavily criticized by local activist groups over the past two years, citing a decline in the amount of animals caught and reported by trappers over the last few decades. While many of these groups have attempted to blame the state’s trappers for a decline, many other factors haven’t been figured into those arguments; including extensive habitat loss, expanded predatory impact (coyotes and bobcats), continued decline of skilled trapper experience, and a potential distemper outbreak.
We reported on the debates as they reached a boiling point over fox trapping seasons in July of 2018. In December, activists again tried to assert a decline in Fisher as grounds for a close to hunting/trapping seasons - prompting state biologists to set the record straight on local radio stations.
In the end, the Department’s rule-making commission opted to reduce statewide fisher take to a 2 animal limit. The state’s fox seasons (for both red and grey species) were left as they have been pending future research into population dynamics.
While activists attempted to direct blame on the hunting/trapping community in the state, local hunters instead put their money where their mouths were - and organized a financial donation to further investigate a perceived population decline in these species.
In the photo is Randy MacArthur from Wildlife Sport Outfitters, Gail Huntting from the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of NH and Diane Richardson, Working Class Canine Wildlife Recovery. (Photo | Diane Richardson)
NH sportsmen joined forces for a donation value that exceeded over $7,000.00, to be utilized by NH Fish and Game biologists for use in conducting wildlife surveys. Known today as the “Richardson Grant” (for Diane Richardson, who tirelessly rallied and organized the donation), the funding has been utilized to study and search for the presence of CDV in fox and fisher.
It was officially released earlier this year that a new strain of canine distemper virus has been identified in furbearer populations in New Hampshire and Vermont. Local trappers also contributed to this project, furnishing trapped fisher carcasses for necropsy at UNH labs.
There still remains questions amongst the scientific community if there is a correlation between trapper-furnished predatory CPUE data trends, and the presence of CDV.
The news comes as political forces in the state will again be seeking to prohibit the activity of furbearer trapping this legislative session, at the behest of the animal rights industry. Experts assert that tissue samples from trapped species are far easier (and effective) to work with over road-killed specimens due to the degradation of tissue samples. Vehicle mortality or disease-inflicted deaths are not as controlled as regulated fur trapping activities - making tissue samples from trapped species far more viable. State wildlife agencies and the biologists tasked with managing wildlife are some of the first to readily support trappers and modern furbearer trapping techniques, because of the immense benefits and skills the activity produces.
The neighboring state of Vermont has tested around 40 carcasses, with one CDV-positive animal. Out of two Fisher trapped in south-central New Hampshire last year, one was confirmed positive for the disease. Professionals assert the disease tends to be more impactful in younger animals than older ones.
For more information about the NH Fox/Fisher study, contact us via our Contact page, reach out to the NH Trappers Association, or contact Patrick Tate, NH Fish and Game’s Furbearer Project Leader, via the department’s Wildlife Division at (603) 271-2461.
After successful fundraising efforts from a dedicated group of local hunters, the NH Wildlife Heritage Foundation secured funding for a comprehensive study to investigate distemper (CDV) impacts on New Hampshire’s furbearers last year. The department initially requested turn-in of carcasses from grey foxes hunted or trapped during the legal hunting and trapping seasons. This year, that study has now expanded to include a desire for carcasses from both Red and Grey Fox, as well as Fisher.