What Is Ethical Behavior?

Like all wildlife in Maine, bears are owned and managed for the benefit of all citizens. The use of this public resources demands that you exercise personal responsibility and respect. Showing respect for yourself, private landowners, other outdoor users, and the resources are all critical displays of this responsibility. There is a personal code of ethics that goes beyond legal requirements, and many of these traits are illustrated in the Trappers Code of Ethics. It is your responsibility to adhere to this code and remember that you should act in a way that reflects positively on all bear trappers, as you may be the first trapper that a member of the public interacts with. Trappers must know and obey all fish and game laws and be willing to report violations of these laws to MDIFW. An important goal of this course is to ensure that an individual interested in trapping a bear is knowledgeable about bear trapping regulations, Best Management Practices (BMPs), and is respectful of landowners, wildlife resources, and other users.