I was shocked to read that trapping was allowed in state parks in Alaska with meat-baited traps placed near recreational trails, no less. People go off-trail sometimes, too.
http://www.akwildlife.org/content/view/62/66/"For the first time in decades, the Alaska Board of Game voted to allow wolverine trapping in Chugach State Park. This was in spite of being advised by the area biologist that any trapping in the Park would likely lead to the extinction of wolverines in that 19,000 square mile region, and be likely to kill dogs belonging to any of the half million annual park visitors. Please note that the Conibear traps normally used to trap wolverines result in almost instant death and utilize meat as an attractant, thus making them conducive to dog killing.
The reason given by the Alaska Board of Game for its decision to open Chugach State Park to wolverine trapping was claimed to be a response to the accidental “by-catch” of wolverines by trappers targeting other species, notably lynx. However, records dating back to 1992 indicate that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game has no record of anyone turning in a wolverine caught in a lynx trap in Chugach State Park. Clearly, the original reason given for the Board of Game opening the Park to wolverine trapping is false. "
As for 'why' trap wolverines, I'd say it is just because some people enjoy trapping and it looks like sport hunters consider predators competition for game. (i.e. lynx are mentioned as favoring ducks and rabbits.)
http://www.marciesalaskaweb.com/webdesign/trapping_2.htm"While I have enjoyed trapping the many species that Alaska has to offer, the one animal that is my favorite is the Lynx. Marten trapping is also enjoyable and the marten has always been the 'bread and butter' fur to the trapper. But the Lynx has a certain 'mystique' about it....it it not that they are difficult to catch; they are not difficult at all. It is more the elusiveness of the species that adds to the mystique. They are a very shy creature with all of the same characteristics of the common house-cat....
Lynx are so easy to catch that some trappers think that they are stupid; nothing could be farther from the truth. It is their feline curiosity that does them in. They are very quick to notice anything out of place and a small piece of surveyor's tape or bird's wing fluttering in the breeze is all it takes to get them over to your set. ....
....Photo on the right is an example of a set that will take Lynx or Wolverine. It is simply a hole kicked in the snow with a rabbit in the back of it for bait, and a 330 Connibear over the entrance. I like to throw some rabbit fur, or feathers if I am using birds, around the hole to look like a kill. This set is a killer, it is not covered in any way, although you could place some spruce boughs around it to camouflage it. The link below will take you to a photo of a wolverine that was caught in this set that you see above....
Here is the email contact for Alaska's governor if anyone wants to write about the Chugach State Park wolverine trapping issue.
http://www.gov.state.ak.us/govmail.phpAnd the Alaska state chamber of commerce:
http://www.alaskachamber.com/artman/publish/staff.html
