Vermont residents! Please sign to oppose the trappers' request to extend otter trapping season in Vermont.

Protect Our Wildlife has been fighting a trapper's proposal, which seeks to expand bobcat and otter trapping seasons, since last fall. Thankfully, the trapper's request to expand the bobcat trapping season was denied (by a narrow margin), but both the Fish & Wildlife Department and Board - that's comprised of all hunters/trappers - support expanding the otter trapping season through the end of March.

Many of us would prefer to not see otters trapped at all. Otters are typically trapped in body crushing traps known as Conibear™ traps and their fur is sold at auction, likely ending up in Russia and China. Otters are listed in the Department's Wildlife Action Plan as Species of Greatest Conservation Need, meaning that there are new threats to the future of their populations and need to be closely monitored.

The Department states on their own website that the current season, which ends last day of February, is in place due to concerns over killing birthing otters in March, thereby placing their pups in danger. Expanding the trapping season through the end of March benefits one party - trappers - who pay licensing fees to the Department and who are heavily represented on the Board.

POW represents members who are biologists, wildlife photographers, avid kayakers, wildlife educators and many others who value the presence of otters on our waterways, yet our interests are routinely ignored while the interests of those who trap seem to take priority.

Thank you for taking action!

View video clip displaying underwater footage of otter trapping. You can learn more about our campaign to stop the extension to otter trapping on our website here.