Furbearer Management
Lynx Populations and Seasons
Lynx numbers cycle up and down about every ten years. However,
in the 1980's, the peak part of the cycle did not occur in
Manitoba and other provinces. At the time, pelt prices were
extremely high. Overharvest, particularly of adult females
during the low parts of the cycle, was likely one reason. The
lynx cycle has still not fully recovered. To help the recovery,
lynx seasons were closed in the mid-1980's and mid-1990's.
Manitoba
will continue to watch lynx populations closely as they are
now in the bottom of the cycle. Pockets of lynx and snowshoe
hares appear to persist, trapping pressure is down, and the
lynx trapping season will not be closed for 2007/2008.
Beaver Management
The beaver is one of Manitoba's most important furbearers.
In the early 1900s, beaver almost became extinct because of
overharvest. However, strict conservation measures and the introduction
of the registered trapline system during the mid-1940s were
successful in rebuilding the population.
The number of beaver harvested by trappers is directly related
to the average market value of beaver pelts on the fur markets.
Recent harvests have ranged from a low of 12,000 in 1990/91
(average pelt value of $14) to a high of 68,000 in 1979/80 (average
pelt value of $40). During successive years of low prices, trapping
pressure is reduced and the beaver population grows relatively
uninhibited until they become a major problem causing millions
of dollars damage to private property, transportation routes
and farmland. Most problems occur in rural municipalities adjacent
to the Duck Mountain Provincial Park and Riding Mountain National
Park and, more recently, in the southeastern part of the province
where abnormal amounts of precipitation have occurred.
To assist rural municipalities and Northern Affairs communities
with beaver related problems, Manitoba Conservation introduced
the Problem
Beaver Removal Program in 1993. However, the impact of
this program was minimal because low pelt prices reduced
the trapping effort during the licensed season. Consequently,
the beaver population continues to grow.
In 2001/02, Manitoba Conservation introduced a second part
to the program, the Winter Beaver Subsidy Program. This was intended
to encourage trappers to remove beaver from chronic problem
areas and registered trapline districts adjacent to municipalities
that are affected by beaver migrating out from the registered
traplines.
Since the program was first introduced in 1993, over 100,000
problem beaver have been removed.
In 2007, the Summer component will run from June 1 to September
30. The Winter component will begin the next day, October
1 and run until March 26, 2008.
Beaver management in Manitoba has been incorporating non-lethal techniques. Manitoba Conservation has been providing a series of workshops
to build capacity at the local level so other agencies and
stakeholders can begin to use another tool in their tool chest
of techniques to manage beavers. Workshops demonstrating the
use of pond levelers and beaver deceivers are offered to agencies and stakeholders
that deal with beaver damage to infrastructure like culverts,
roads and other property. These devices discourage beavers from blocking
the flow of water.
Trappers who are interested in participating in these programs
should contact their local municipality or nearest Manitoba
Conservation office to obtain guidelines
[PDF].
Problem Predator Removal Program
The Manitoba Trappers Association entered into an agreement
with Manitoba to administer and deliver a problem predator
removal program to reduce livestock losses for 2007. These
losses have amounted to over $433,000 in livestock being destroyed
by predators..
The $50,000 predator management initiative was developed in
response to reports from the Manitoba Cattle Producers Association
(MCPA) and other livestock producers regarding losses of sheep and
cattle, primarily to coyotes.
Producers experiencing predator losses must report the incidents
to the nearest Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation (MASC)
office. A claim number will be assigned, allowing the producer
to contact the Manitoba Trappers Association to have a qualified
trapper referred to deal with the particular problem predator.
Only humane trapping methods will
be permitted and only predators causing the problem will be
removed. Landowners must sign a landowner agreement and liability
release form before trappers enter onto the property to remove
offending predators.
As part of the agreement, the association in conjunction with Manitoba
Conservation will provide workshops in chronic problem areas
for local trappers and producers on humane methods to remove
problem predators such as wolves and coyotes. Participants
who attended these workshops last year (Problem Beaver and Problem
Predator) were extremely supportive of this initiative. For
more information on the program please contact the Manitoba
Trappers Association at 204-345-9107. Trapping and Forestry
Crown lands in Manitoba are managed using the principles of
multiple use. Two of the many uses include furbearer and forest
management. Both activities are important to the regional and
provincial economies, and when properly managed, can co-exist
and be mutually beneficial. For example, certain roads constructed
for cutting areas can also be used by trappers.The key to co-existence
is communication between all users of the land.
Forest Management Licence (FML) holders conduct the majority
of timber harvesting in Manitoba. FML holders hold annual open
houses to meet directly with other users of the land to make
them aware of what activities are taking place. Trappers are
encouraged to attend these open houses and speak directly to
the forestry representative.
Local fur council meetings can be one way to meet with forestry
companies. It is also important for everyone involved in these
discussions to keep in touch throughout the year.
Other Programs
- Manitoba Conservation held workshops on Non-lethal Problem
Beaver Management, which included constructing and installing
pond levelers in culverts and dams.
- Manitoba
Conservation, in cooperation with Manitoba Agriculture, Foods
and Rural Initiatives, Manitoba Agricultural Services Corporation,
and the Manitoba Trappers Association, held several workshops
for producers and trappers on problem predator management.
- Manitoba Conservation and the Manitoba Trappers
Association continued to partner on trapper education programs,
with over 320 students passing the mandatory trapper education
exam in 2006/07.
- Manitoba Conservation continued
to review the Furbearer Management Policy with staff and
the stakeholders, including the Manitoba Trappers Association.
Over the next year, Manitoba Conservation will:
- Provide workshops on Non-lethal Problem Beaver Management
and Predator Removal.
- Work with other agencies to assist
and educate trappers and producers on predator management.
- Meet
with more local fur councils and communities to review the “Furbearer
Management Policy, 2001.“
- Partner with the Manitoba
Trappers Association to update the Trapper Education manual.
- Review
problem beaver removal programs.
- Work with the Fur Institute
of Canada and the other provinces and territories to harmonize implementation
of the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards in 2008.
- Review of licence/permit fees and royalities.
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