Trapper Changes Views on Trapping After Illegally Capturing a Pine Marten

Summary:

Baudette, MN – When a northern Minnesota trapper checked one of his traps set in hopes of catching a bobcat, he discovered an illegal catch instead. An out-of-season pine marten was in the trap and appeared to be dead. As is required by law, the trapper called a DNR conservation officer to report the illegal catch. “He called me almost in tears saying he had a pine marten in his bobcat set and that he didn’t want the animal to die,” said conservation officer Nicholas Prachar. “And as I was on the phone with him, he said, ‘Oh, hold on, the eyes just moved.’ And next thing I know he hung up on me.” The man called Prachar back a few minutes later to say he had revived the animal by performing CPR. The pine marten was later released.

The trapper told Prachar he was so unsettled by the incident he decided to collect all 10 of the bobcat traps he had set in the area. The DNR did not release the trapper’s name, and said the man did not want to be interviewed. Prachar believes the pine marten survived the body-grip trap designed to quickly kill an animal because they are much smaller than the bobcat the trap is designed for.

Result: