By Michael Howell
Two women from Stevensville whose dogs were caught in traps set near the Crazy Creek campground near Sula last month are relieved to learn that they most likely won’t be prosecuted for removing the traps.
According to Cathy Scholtens, she and Becky Howard, owners of the dogs, Tillie Fae and Huckleberry, were hiking in the area and had returned to the campground where they had parked and were loading up when Tillie ran up a nearby well-worn trail. They called for the dog to return but immediately heard a yelp coming from up the trail.
Running up the trail, Scholtens said, she saw Tillie by the trail with her leg caught in a trap. At that moment the second dog, Huckleberry, who had followed along, got her neck caught in a snare trap. While Howard was removing Tillie from the leg trap, Scholtens held Huckleberry still, trying to keep the wire noose from tightening and strangling the dog.
After releasing Tillie from the leg trap, Howard returned to the car to fetch a pair of old wire cutters that they carry to use in emergencies such as freeing a deer that has become caught in a fence.
“The wire cutters were dull and the wire noose was very difficult to cut,” said Scholtens. “But Huckleberry was a good dog and held very still.” She said the traps are designed so that the noose tightens as the animal struggles to get loose.
Scholtens said it was one of the most horrible situations she had ever been in and once the dogs were free they left “a nasty note” for the trapper and removed the traps from the area. At home they posted an account and a warning on the website of Footloose, an anti-trapping organization.
Scholtens said when they called Fish, Wildlife and Parks the next morning to report the incident they were told to bring in the traps because they were evidence. They were contacted by FWP game warden Doug Johnson and asked to return to the scene with him to help in his investigation.
She said that the warden measured the distance from the picnic table in the campground to the traps and that it was only 389 feet to the farthest trap. The law does not allow setting traps within 1,000 feet of a campground or trailhead.
But at that time, she said, the warden interviewed the women separately about the incident. Scholtens said that in the interview she was read her Miranda rights and warned that she might have violated a few laws. It is illegal for a person to remove traps and, in this case, it might also be considered tampering with the evidence. Scholtens said she burst into tears. The warden did tell the women that the evidence would be turned over to the County Attorney’s office and that office would decide whether to press charges or not. Scholtens said that the warden was able to identify the trapper, Wade Lewis, from identification left on a piece of a trap that remained at the site.
State Game Warden Doug Johnson said that the trapper had been ticketed for violation of the law requiring traps to be at least 1,000 feet from the campground. He said the trapper posted a $135 appearance bond and must contact the court by January 19 or forfeit the bond.
Vivica Crowser, FWP information officer, said that the agency had submitted information about the incident to the Ravalli County Attorney’s office.
“We have not heard from the county attorney’s office yet,” said Crowser. “They have the final say, but we are not expecting charges to be filed against the women.”
County Attorney Bill Fulbright said on Monday that his office had received the information on the case from FWP but that they have not had time to review it. Once reviewed, he said, a determination would be made as to whether any charges are warranted or not.
Scholtens said that if charges are filed that they will be pleading innocent.
Scholtens said that the trapper could just go on about his business, but that she and Howard and their two dogs could not. She said they took the dogs to a nearby drainage up the Burnt Fork following the incident. They were walking in the road past a small pond along Sawmill Saddle Road when the dogs began sniffing heavily up the hillside. She said they walked up to take a look and found animal body parts strewn around, including a few severed feet.
“It looked like another trapping site,” said Scholtens. “We got out of there and, at this point, we are not going into the woods for the rest of the winter.” Scholtens said the experience has traumatized their household.
“No place is safe,” said Scholtens. She said it was extremely unfair, in her opinion, that a very small minority of people who want to trap can penalize the huge majority making it unsafe for them to go into the woods with their animals.
“Do they have the right to chase everyone else out?” asked Scholtens.
Scholtens also recommended carrying heavy duty wire cutters when heading into the woods with pets because something like a “Leatherman” just won’t work if you have to get an animal out of a trap.
s phipps says
it simply amazes me about people. i have had 9 dogs in my life travelrd hundreds of miles horse back on forest service land and blm ground and never had my dogs trapped why because i had a handle on them meaning they were with me not out running all over the place. keep ur dogs heeled up or on a leash if u cant do that u shouldnt own the dog. happy trails
Dave Johnsen says
SO much mis-information on trapping out there,
Just because 1-person exercises bad judgement or
un-knowingly sets traps too close to areas used by dog-walkers,does not mean trapping should be stopped,
If you cant see your dogs,they are no-longer under your direct control or supervision,,
Would you bring your kids to a park and let them out to run wild without watching them ??
cjf says
No one watches there dogs everywhere u go theres dogs running loose.Chasing deer killing fawns but thats ok right.I remember years ago seeing my great grampa shooting dogs chasing deer in the woods thats how it should be.Keep your dogs leashed up what happens to them when they are not leashed up isn’t no ones fault but yours.
Carolyn says
This sounds like a very sad but preventable situation. While I do not like trapping, if it is done legally & in designated areas, I think we can allow it. However, if allowed, “live” trapping only should be the rule. One thing I might say regarding hikers & others w/dogs: While I love dogs, I believe they should always be kept on a leash unless they are confined to their owner’s property or on other appropriately fenced private land. I’m not fond of being jumped on, chased, growled at, “nipped” by dogs, etc., who are not on leashes or under control by their owners. Dogs are not to blame for unacceptable & sometimes dangerous behavior. They are dogs (not humans), after all, & usually behave as such in many situations. IF the trapper had followed the rules & IF these lovely pets had been under strict control by their owners, this situation may have been avoided & no one harmed or traumatized.
jim evans says
why not have a corridor along public hiking trails that does not allow trapping? Folks can hike, ski, etc safely with pets. Folks who trap can trap, but further off trails where no harm will come to children or pets. Everyone wins!!
It seems the trapper violated the law by seting traps so close. Was that just lazy? Prosecute him too.
jim
Vance E Gilbraith says
So it is alright for you to run off peopel doing a legal and time honored traditional activity? Please take a wolf and go back to California
Lyle Wirtane says
It is time to BAN TRAPPING of any sort. Why is it necessary to apply pain to the death of any living creature? Trapping is cruel and inhumane punishment to the trapped animal, whether wild or tame. Over some 90,000 years of existence, it is hard to believe that humankind has not evolved more in respecting life on this planet.
Lindsay Abernethy says
This is so scary and sad… I only feel safe hiking with my dog in areas where traps are not legal, Blue Mountain and Pattee Canyon. If my dog, who is like my child, was caught in a trap and injured or even killed, I would be traumatized for life. I’m so sad for what these two women have been forced to go through. It’s time for trapping to be a thing of the past.
Patti says
I can SO relate to how Becky & Cathy feel. Early in Dec., my dog got caught in a leghold trap on public land. It was an horrific experience, for both him & I. I got bitten a few times while releasing him and a vet bill pushing $200. Needless to say, I’ve been traumatized to the point I don’t want to go out hiking with my dog. I’d like to, but I don’t know where to go that would be safe from traps! Apparently…NOWHERE, since traps can essentially be nearly ANYWHERE, and legally so! And without warning!! If there had been a sign warning me of traps in the area, I would have left. Something needs to change. The trapping laws are too much in favor of the trappers, who are a small minority of public land users, let alone the inhumane nature of these types of traps, which is a whole ‘nother issue. I’m not a PETA type person, but I think these traps and the trapping methods, associated with them, are cruel and barbaric.
Jamie Lawrence says
As I was reading the end of this article I was horrified to hear the description of the canyon my parents and their 2 wonderful Aussies live. I grew up riding horses and hiking with our dogs right by that very pond off Saw Mill Gulch (Arrowhead Pond). I have seen the same kind of evidence, and one of our dogs was caught in a trap in 1996. Luckily the trapper decided to take her to the vet instead of shooting her, which is the normal practice of many trappers who find domesticated animals in their traps. Sasha lost a few toes and always had a limp afterwards, but she lived.
I hope and pray that these women are not prosecuted and that very soon Footloose MT’s efforts end this barbaric and cowardly form of hunting.
C. Poten says
The trauma that Becky Howard and Cathy Scholtens endured is exactly why I cannot cross country ski or hike with my dogs outside town on beautiful Montana public lands. We’re shut out of our own country and it’s unacceptable. This trapping ‘recreation’ is barbaric and endangers the health and safety of the public. Time to vote it out!
Stephen Slocomb says
Please use cable cutters…wire cutters are different and not very effective