PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Stop DNR Allowed Torture of Trapped Animals in Indiana
  1. Signatures
    891 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. The Governor of IN (+ 3 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • The Governor of IN
      • The IN State Senate
      • The IN State House
      • Director, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (Robert Carter)
  2. Created By
    Priscilla Herochik
    Crown Point, IN
About this Petition Petition Letter

Rule 312 IAC 9-3-14.5 in Indiana allows trappers to trap wild animals, like raccoons. On July 20, 2010, I learned that they can also hold them for the purpose of collecting and selling their urine even though the rule does not provide for allowing them to do so.   Since they can then hold them up to 20 days after the end of trapping season, that means that for periods of 3 months (raccoons) to 6 months (skunks and coyotes) they languish in cruel confinement.  They can starve them to death since they will produce urine as long as they have water.  They keep them out in the cold so their fur thickens.  Then, when dead, they skin them and often throw the dead animals in with the living to be cannibalized.  At the end, they kill those left and then sell the fur.  This sadistic practice can be stopped.   The DNR Director, Robert Carter, can suspend the rule and the Natural Resources commission can repeal it.  Make them understand that they can no longer condone such cruelty. 

Recent Signatures

Suspend 312 IAC 9-3-14.5 which allows holding of trapped animals

Greetings,

On July 7, 2010, a petition was filed on behalf of Advocates for Indiana Wildlife and its members requesting the Director of the DNR to suspend a portion of rule 9-3-14.5. The Director has this power pursuant to IC 14-22-2-6 (d): The director may modify or suspend a rule for a time not to exceed one (1) year under IC 4-22-2-37.1. Rule 9-3-14.5 allows trappers to trap wild animals such as raccoons and coyotes. They can throw them in cages out in the cold, starve them, neglect them and hold them for months until 20 days after the end of trapping season. Since they are often just holding them for urine collection, with no rule allowing them to do so, they can just give them water since they will produce urine until they go into kidney failure and die. The trappers ultimately kill them if they are still alive. The animals have no protection and cannot be protected. Rules to protect them, even if such rules existed, would never be enforced.

The DNR is obligated by statute to protect the wildlife not the trappers. Specifically, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources acts as trustee for Indiana’s wild animals and is vested with the duty to provide for their welfare. Under IC 14-22-2-6, the DNR and NRC can adopt rules but only rules which:
(2) Must be based upon data relative to the following:
(A) The welfare of the wild animal.
(B) The relationship of the wild animal to other animals.
(C) The welfare of the people.

This part of Indiana’s code, although universally ignored in many of the wildlife rules now in existence in Indiana, is a very pro-wildlife statute. The rule now being amended is a prime example of how the law has been violated and virtually ignored. No data could possibly support an argument that holding these wild animals in captivity for weeks or months is for their welfare. No data can show any benefit to them when they are ultimately killed for their fur. Instead of protecting the welfare of these wild animals, the DNR is allowing Indiana’s commonly owned wildlife to be endangered, abused and maltreated. They are condoning cruelty with a rule which allows trappers to hold live animals throughout and after the trapping season. Why? Just for a thicker fur and more financial gain for the trapper. Since a raccoon pelt sells for less than $ 8, trappers won't feed or care for these animals because to do so properly would cost more than the value of the skin. They will let them suffer, starve and die of neglect. They will then skin them and sell the pelt for a profit. That is no way for the DNR to be protecting Indiana's wildlife. They should be ashamed that they are condoning such cruelty.

Indiana citizens don't condone Indiana's wild animals being treated so sadistically. Neither should the DNR. The undersigned demands that the Director of the DNR/NRC immediately suspend the rule, pursuant to IC 14-22-2-6(d) Section 14.5, until the holding portion can be repealed.

Respectfully submitted,

[Your name]

Press Inquiries