Ontario trappers have received praise and regard from John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry. Yakabuski announced $1.1 million in funding will go to support the trapping industry.
Robin Horwath of the Ontario Fur Managers Federation (center) stands with Ministers Yakabuski and Fedeli. (Photo | OFMF Facebook)
Minister Yakabuski announced via social media Friday that Ontario’s “government recognizes the important role trappers play in managing furbearer populations and reducing human-wildlife conflicts.” The announcement of the million-dollar investment in wildlife management took place at Fur Harvester’s Auctions in North Bay.
Yakabuski told reporters “Trapping is a huge part of Ontario’s economy and the culture too. We depend on the Fur Managers Association to provide the knowledge, the educational programs and the licensing for the trappers to ensure they are being continuously upgraded on the most up to date and humane methods of conducting their trapping. It's a partnership that has worked very, very well and we're very happy that the Fur Managers Association continues to be willing to take on that responsibility,” he explained to the press.
The Ontario Fur Managers Federation provides education services on behalf of the government.
Ministers John Yakabuski and Vic Fedeli handle fox pelts at Fur Harvesters Auctions in North Bay Ontario (Photo | J Yakabuski, Instagram)
About 8,000 trapping licences are issued in Ontario every year according to reports. OFMA will use the funding to administer a trapper education program and provide license services for trappers and trapping instructors.
The Ontario Fur Managers Federation has been active in both the promotion of regulated, ethical trapping activities, as well as being vigilant on wildlife trends. For example, the Federation gives regular updates via social media on current furbearer disease trends throughout the area.
“For the week of February 27th there was 1 new case of raccoon strain rabies detected in a domestic dog in Niagara. We are currently at 457 cases of raccoon strain, and 21 cases of fox strain rabies in Ontario since December 2015” the Federation posted on Facebook.
The federation also promotes and seeks to bolster future education in the fields of Fish/Wildlife, Conservation, and Biology. The organization recently announced its acquirement of a Bursary to be awarded to any graduating student moving from secondary to post-secondary school, University or College, full time in the fields of Fish/Wildlife, Forestry, Biology, Conservation, or Veterinary studies.
Another prime example of trappers assisting to bolster wildlife biodiversity and conservation of important environmental resources. Too bad we can’t say the same for all those “city folks” currently protesting fur trim on Canada Goose jackets!