Video: Design and Deployment Overview

Transcript for Design and Deployment Overview

Caitlin Drasher, Bear Biologist: Hi, I’m Caitlin Drasher, the State Bear Biologist with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. I’m here to provide a summary of the bear trapping regulations in Maine. These regulations ensure that cable restraints are set in a manner to effectively capture and hold a black bear by the foot, to minimize the risk of injury to a black bear in a cable restraint or a culvert trap, and to avoid the incidental capture of non-target species, including the federally threatened Canada lynx.

Our trapping regulations are informed by over 45 years of experience trapping black bears for the department’s long-term bear research and monitoring project. Our bear team uses Aldrich cable restraints to trap bears for our research, and we typically use trail sets. The trapping regulations require that the cable has the minimum diameter of 3/16 of an inch, and that it has at least one swivel between the foot loop and the anchor point.

The closing diameter of the cable should be no less than 2.5 inches, which can be achieved by crimping a metal stop onto the cable. A soda can has a diameter of 2.5 inches, and that can be used to provide a reference point when crimping the stop onto the cable.

In terms of anchoring the trap, drags are prohibited and cables must be securely connected to a fixed and secure anchor point to ensure the trap remains in place at the anchor point. If a tree is used as an anchor point, it must be a minimum of six inches in diameter and cleared of all limbs seven feet above the ground. The regulations require the catch circle to be clear of any woody vegetation, debris, or man-made materials that could cause entanglement of the trapped bear that may disable the swivel.

The easiest way to ensure your catch circle is clear is to first securely attach your cable to its fixed anchor point, then extend the foot loop until it’s closed, and then walk in a circle around your fixed anchor point to ensure that everything within that circle is clear of woody vegetation or debris. It’s also important to point out that you can use sticks and rocks and rotten or decaying woody materials that are not rooted to the ground as stepping guides, blocking and backing for traps.

However, we want to emphasize that solid sticks or logs cannot be used, as it could cause entanglement. For example, a cubby set that uses solid trees or sticks as blocking violates the clear catch circle regulation. If you’re going to use a bucket or pipe style set when setting a cable restraint for a black bear, you are required to use non-animal based lures or bait, and it must be placed below the trigger. The trigger must be recessed 12 inches below the opening of the bucket or pipe, and the inside diameter of the bucket or pipe can be no more than six inches in diameter.

And finally, when using a pipe or bucket set, the bucket must be covered by a weight of at least 30 pounds to prevent any non-target captures. You may choose to trap bear with a culvert or cage trap. These traps must be heavily constructed to prevent damage from bears, and must be well ventilated with ventilation holes along the length of the trap and on all sides.

Make sure there are no sharp edges in the trap, and that it is large enough for a bear to turn itself around when inside. See IFW’s best management practices for culvert and cage traps for additional guidance. Your trap must be tended at least once per day. While remote cameras or other trap notification devices are useful for knowing when an animal has been trapped, cameras do not replace physical checks once per day.

Remember, you may only have one trap set for bears at any time. If you choose to use bait at your trap site, follow all department regulations related to bait. Again, these regulations promote safer and effective capture of black bears using cable restraints and culvert or cage traps and prevent the incidental capture of non-target species.

Thank you for watching and learning about ethical bear trapping. Please visit our website, mefishwildlife.com/beartrapping, to review our law books for more information on bear hunting and trapping in Maine.