Title: Amendments to Ontario Regulation 667/98 (Trapping) made under Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act to regulate the use of relaxing cable restraints for trapping in Ontario
Ministry: Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Date Decision loaded to the Registry: December 31, 2015 Date Proposal loaded to the Registry: August 12, 2015
Keyword(s):Fish and Wildlife | Conservation
Decision on Regulation:
A decision was made to proceed with the proposal as described below. The regulation is effective on January 1, 2016. Amendments to O. Reg. 667/98 (Trapping) under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act will be made to regulate the use of relaxing cable restraints (RCRs) for trapping in Ontario, specifically: • For use by licensed trappers or farmers to trap coyote/wolf in protection of property on a year-round-basis across Ontario, • For use by licensed trappers or farmers to trap coyote/wolf during the open trapping season, except during deer seasons in southern, central and parts of northern Ontario where dogs are generally permitted for use while hunting deer, • According to the technical specifications that are set out in the regulation to help avoid non-target species and improve animal welfare (i.e. locking mechanism, breakaway release, swivels, cable measurements/dimensions, loop diameters, setting requirements to prevent entanglement, etc). In support of the regulatory amendments, a relaxing cable restraint training component will be added to the mandatory Fur Harvest, Fur Management and Conservation Course required for all new licensed trappers. Ontario will also develop a best management practice document to provide additional information on the effective use of RCRs. A link to the final illustrative map is provided for reference. The proposal was implemented by an amendment to O. Reg. 667/98 (Trapping) by O. Reg. 388/15. This regulation was filed in the Office of the Registrar of Regulations on December 10, 2015. The regulation comes into effect on January 1, 2016. Supporting Links: The following web links provide supporting information. • Area for RCR use in Ontario: https://apps.mnr.gov.on.ca/public/files/er/area-for-relaxing-cable-restraint-rcr-use-in-ontario.pdf • A link to the trapping regulation (667/98): http://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/980667
Comment(s) Received on the Proposal: 73
Public Consultation on the proposal for this decision was provided for 47 Days, from August 12, 2015 to September 28, 2015. As a result of public consultation on the proposal, the Ministry received a total of 73 comments: 6 comments were received in writing and 67 were received online. Additionally, a copy of all comments are available for public viewing by contacting the Contact person listed in this notice.
A selection of these comments are available:
Effect(s) of Consultation on this Decision:
The comments were generally supportive of the proposal. The majority of comments acknowledged the need for additional tools to help farmers better manage conflicts with coyotes/wolf and avoid inadvertently capturing or killing non-target species. A number of comments suggested the need for specific training on the use of relaxing cable restraints (RCRs) to help ensure efficient and effective use by both licensed trappers and farmers. As a result of these comments, Ontario will be adding an RCR training component to the mandatory Fur Harvest, Fur Management and Conservation Course required for all new licensed trappers. Ontario will also develop a best management practice document to provide additional information on the effective use of RCRs. Specific reasons cited for not supporting the proposed regulation included: concerns regarding potential impacts to dogs used for the purpose of hunting, being inadvertently captured in southern Ontario, concern that farmers would be permitted to use relaxing cable restraints without specific training, general opposition to wolf/coyote trapping, and preference for other non-lethal and preventative conflict management by farmers. Concerns have been addressed by: prohibiting general RCR use during deer seasons in southern, central and parts of northern Ontario where dogs are generally permitted for use while hunting deer, clarifying that farmers may only use RCRs on their private property, and identifying that the Ministry will provide training materials to farmers and licensed trappers who wish to use RCRs. Hunters using dogs will continue to be required to obtain landowner permission to hunt and use dogs on private land, which should alleviate some broader concerns with respect to RCR use on private lands. In addition, a few comments reflected a need to better promote awareness of existing preventative information and compensation programs to assist with managing conflicts with coyote/wolf. The Ministry will continue to make such information available, as noted below for reference. • Preventing and managing conflicts with coyotes and wolves: http://www.ontario.ca/page/preventing-and-managing-conflicts-coyotes-wolves-and-foxes • Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/predation.htm It is anticipated that this decision will have a positive impact on the agricultural community to help better manage conflicts with coyotes and help avoid inadvertently capturing or killing non-target species.
Contact:
Wildlife Section PUBLIC INPUT COORDINATOR Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Policy Division Species Conservation Policy Branch Wildlife Section 300 Water Street Peterborough Ontario K9J 8M5 Phone: (705) 755-1940 Fax: (705) 755-2901
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