MANCHESTER, N.H. (Nov. 15, 2022) — In Defense of Animals and New Hampshire Citizens Against Recreational Trapping joined in the midst of New Hampshire’s trapping season to support a statewide recreational trapping ban, and express solidarity with the thousands of animals who suffer and die in archaic traps. 

Residents honked to show their support to a dozen demonstrators who gathered on Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Massabesic Traffic Circle in Manchester, N.H. They appeared alongside NH Citizens Against Recreational Trapping’s new “Stop Recreational Trapping” billboard. The design draws attention to the cruel impact of trapping on wild animal families, picturing a raccoon parent and baby with a speech bubble message to drivers: “Please Don’t Trap Us.” The giant sign will be displayed through December 4.

The majority of New Hampshire residents do not actively trap animals. The state issued only 422 trapping licenses in 2020-2021, a number that has continued to decrease over previous years. In contrast, NH Citizens Against Recreational Trapping has over 3,700 followers on Facebook.

"The public is becoming more aware of how inhumane and inherently cruel leghold and body gripping traps are,” said Kristina Snyder, a longtime member of NH Citizens Against Recreational Trapping. “Recreational trappers do not make money trapping for fur, and one would be hard-pressed to find people in New Hampshire wearing fur coats in 2022. Traps are indiscriminate, maiming and killing domestic pets, as well as protected species. We want to see an end to recreational trapping and better protection for New Hampshire's precious wild animals."

Snyder and NH Citizens Against Recreational Trapping worked to end the antiquated tradition of awarding a fur coat from the New Hampshire Trappers Association to the winner of the Miss New Hampshire pageant. Contest organizers finally discontinued the practice last year.

“We are very pleased at the level of support we are getting both online and also in person at the demonstration,” said Katie Nolan, Campaigner at In Defense of Animals. “Trapping is an outdated practice that needs to be ended. It is a cruel and inhumane way to torture animals, and there are so many alternatives to wearing fur.”

In Defense of Animals works to end the abuse of wild animals who are tortured for hunting and trapping, as well as killing contests.

To bring local attention to this disturbing situation, In Defense of Animals and NH Citizens Against Recreational Trapping will continue to work on this campaign to end the suffering of countless wild animals. 

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Images (free for use with credit to Frank Erickson): https://bit.ly/ManStopTrapPix

Video: https://youtu.be/t8f5xgrxDVA

Contacts:

In Defense of Animals - Katie Nolan, katie@idausa.org, ‪(601) 207-0076‬ 
NH Citizens Against Recreational Trapping - Kristina Snyder, khsnyder22@yahoo.com, (603) 568-0981
 

In Defense of Animals is an international animal protection organization based in Marin County, California, with over 250,000 supporters and a 39-year history of fighting for animals, people, and the environment through education and campaigns, as well as hands-on rescue facilities in India, South Korea, and rural Mississippi. https://www.idausa.org/fur 

New Hampshire Citizens Against Recreational Trapping is an organization dedicated to educating the public about the cruelties of trapping and advocating for a ban of recreational trapping of animals. https://www.facebook.com/NHCART