Today's TriCity News

Mar 08 2006
The Editor,
Residents of Port Coquitlam are advised to carry a hacksaw blade with them at all times. The blade isn’t to protect them from crime; it’s a precautionary measure to protect them and their children from municipally-endorsed dangers.

Although many municipalities have banned trapping and adopted safe and humane methods of wildlife management, Port Coquitlam continues to use trapping as a form of animal control. All traps are dangerous but the trap most often used in PoCo is the Conibear trap. It has proven to be merciless to animals and family pets but it also catches its share of curious children.

The traps are fiercely strong and cannot be opened unless you are carrying the right tools, or have the strength of Hercules. The need to carry a hacksaw blade in a civilized community shouldn’t be necessary but provincial government authorities advise trappers and any residents near traps to carry them for their own safety in case they or an innocent victim becomes trapped in the crushing steel.

The Conibear trap the city uses to drown beavers delivers 90 pounds of crushing power per square inch. Even though it can snap bones, the leg of a screaming grandchild can almost always be saved if Grandma prays loud enough and saws fast enough.

I’ve been told it costs the city $70,000 per year not to use traps. That means 55,000 residents are each being saved a grand total of $1.27 per year in taxes but are putting the safety of their pets and children in jeopardy every time they walk near a river, stream or pond. If Spot and Rover are unleashed, they will obviously ignore the signs and die in the trap but, then again, so will a curious toddler. Even those curious kids than can read are more tempted than warned by the (not always) posted signs.

I appreciate PoCo council’s efforts to save taxpayers money but they need to stop group-thinking in common dollars and start thinking in common sense.

Mike Rogozinski
Port Coquitlam