Leg-hold traps are inhumane and ineffective

Marin County is home to a wonderful community of people who love, appreciate and respect local wildlife, but occasionally something happens to challenge the assumption that everyone here equally appreciates our wild neighbors.

Patient No. 22-3127 arrived at WildCare on Oct. 27 after being rescued in the Gerstle Park neighborhood of San Rafael. A concerned neighbor spotted the young raccoon trying to climb a tree with a heavy-duty steel trap clamped on her front leg. The neighbor called Marin Humane, and two animal services officers were dispatched to rescue the young animal and bring her to WildCare’s wildlife hospital.

California has outlawed leg-hold traps, and with good reason. These devices are designed specifically to trap animals that use their dexterous paws to explore the environment. How? An inquisitive raccoon inserts a paw into the cylinder of the trap, triggering jaws that snap closed with bone-shattering force. Originally intended to snare fur-bearing animals without damaging their valuable pelts, these traps inflict terrible suffering upon their victims.

After admitting the young raccoon, WildCare’s medical team gently sedated her and removed the trap before taking X-rays of her paw. Although the limb had not turned necrotic, it was swollen and cold to the touch. The was no blood flow to the foot; amputation was the only option. Knowing that female raccoons need both paws to climb while carrying babies, the difficult decision was made to humanely euthanize her.

Every October, WildCare’s Living with Wildlife Hotline — 415-456-7283 — is flooded with calls from homeowners frustrated by raccoons tearing up their lawns. Someone in Gerstle Park likely set this trap (and presumably others) in a misguided attempt to solve the problem.

The truth is, a dug-up lawn does not mean you have a raccoon problem; it means you have a grub problem. A well-watered lawn is the perfect nursery for the larvae of scarab beetles, like the ones you may know as “June bugs.” Their eggs hatch in the fall. Raccoons have excellent hearing and as they traverse your lawn during their nightly foraging rounds (eating mice, rats, snails, crickets, and other garden pests), the sounds of the fat, nutritious grubs are irresistible.

What can you do about it? First, change your watering schedule. Grubs become active wherever there is moisture, and watering at night means the grubs are at their noisiest when raccoons are most likely to pass through. Adjust your sprinklers to switch on just after dawn and raccoons will find your yard less attractive.

Second, try beneficial nematodes. Getting rid of grubs altogether is the best way to permanently discourage raccoons. Instead of toxic pesticides, add these harmless microscopic roundworms (available at garden stores) to your soil. It may take a few weeks for the nematodes to take effect, but they kill grubs without harming your family, the soil or wildlife.

And finally, try deterrents like motion-activated sprinklers that emit alarming jets of water. These are extremely effective if you move the sprinkler regularly, otherwise intelligent raccoons quickly become accustomed to them. Strobe lights, loud noise and scent deterrents may also help.

The one thing you do not want to do is use cruel or inhumane traps to kill wildlife. Not only are these traps barbaric, they’re ineffective; killing the raccoons won’t permanently solve the problem. These traps also pose a real threat to curious pets and other wildlife.

Marin Humane has opened an investigation into who set the cruel and illegal leg-hold trap that ensnared and ultimately killed this raccoon. Anyone with information on this or any other illegal traps should contact Marin Humane at 415-883-4621. And for more information about living well with wildlife, visit discoverwildcare.org.

Alison Hermance is the director of communications and marketing at WildCare. Marin Humane contributes Tails of Marin articles and welcomes animal-related questions and stories about the people and animals in our community. Find Marin Humane on social media @marinhumaneor email lbloch@marinhumane.org.