Pet owners warned about wildlife traps

Montana’s recreational trapping season, which runs from September through May 2013, includes a new wolf trapping season from Dec. 15 through February.

Footloose Montana, a nonprofit organization promoting trap-free public lands for people, pets and wildlife, urges all pet owners, hunters, anglers, skiers and hikers to be aware of harmful, dangerous traps.

The group warns the public that traps are not marked and dogs could be lured to them by the scent of bait. Traps legally can be set 300 feet from trailheads, 30 feet from a trail and 50 feet from the centerline of a public road.

For more information on furbearer trapping regulations and wolf trapping regulations, visit online at www.footloosemontana.org or http://fwp.mt.gov/eBook/hunting/regulations/2012/furbearer2012/index.html or http://fwp.mt.gov/eBook/hunting/regulations/2012/wolf2012/index.html.