Trapping Incident #103

Summary:

The incident took place on the edge of an old logging road used as popular hiking trail, in the West Virginia University research forest, which is land leased long-term from Coopers Rock State Forest. Leo’s caregiver reports, “It was not feasible for me to remove the trap alone because the dog was in a frenzy and trying to bite. After running one mile round-trip to retrieve tools from my vehicle I managed to dig up the rebar stake holding the trap to the ground. Then I used a cell phone to call friends. I spent approximately 1 hour on the ground restraining and calming the dog while waiting for help. The trap was illegal because it had no identification on it. WV law states, vaguely, that traps can’t be ‘in human or livestock trails’. This trap was right on the edge of the trail. I notified the local newspaper and although I spoke with a reporter in person and followed up by phone with more information, no story was published to my knowledge. I know the newspaper reporter went as far as contacting the WV Division of Natural Resources because the conservation officer I spoke to mentioned it.” The veterinarian treating Leo prescribed 10 days cephalexin for the infection. The caregiver further reports, “A week or more before this incident, a West Virginia University student was cited and fined for placing traps illegally (directly on trails)in the area. The WVDNR officer I spoke with said that they could not prove who set the trap that injured Leo.”

Result: