Trap Release Workshop Offers Trap Release Skills to Save Pets

WYCAP, along with Wyoming Untrapped, co-sponsored a free, hands-on Trap Release Workshop in Laramie in October 2025. Two days later, the workshop was offered in Alpine. After a few years’ absence, the workshop was offered again to the Laramie community. The workshop emphasized that “Traps and Trails Don’t Mix”. This idea was unfortunately substantiated by the fact that some participants acknowledged that they had personal experience with traps, or had friends whose dogs had been caught in traps or snares while hiking with their owners. Over 50 citizens attended the workshop to learn how to act very quickly to release a dog from a variety of commonly used traps, that will help them save the life of their pet if the circumstance arises. The message is clear: Once a dog is trapped it is critical to release them swiftly to reduce permanent disability or death. 

Dave Pauli, Global Wildlife Outreach Specialist for Greater Good Charities, demonstrated how to release pets from a variety of traps using specific tools or by improvising items such as a dog leash or heavy-duty zip tie. Dave is a wildlife biologist and former trapper with 40+ years in animal rescue, wildlife rehabilitation, and humane conflict resolution, employed throughout the world. For many years Dave was the Senior Advisor–Wildlife Response & Policy Manager at The Humane Society of the United States. He oversaw the Wildlife Response Team working with government, private agencies, or individuals to help wildlife in crisis. Dave’s workshop demonstration on releasing dogs from a variety of traps is very popular and is available on YouTube.

The statewide Trap Release Workshops are part of an education, advocacy, and reform movement in the state. Many people who use our public lands are unaware of the lax trapping regulations. There is no signage warning people about traps which can be anywhere on public lands. For example, visitors to the state, Wyoming’s outdoor recreation population, climbers, photographers, campers, skiers, and mushroom collectors, are unaware of the prevalence of traps. They are walking in “trap mine fields” all year. Furbearer trapping season is from October 1 through April 30, and trapping of predators happens year-round (coyote, jackrabbit, porcupine, raccoon, red fox, skunk, and stray cat are considered predators in Wyoming).

Traps and snares can be set without limits adjacent to trails, year-round and without warning. Although the Trap Release Workshops focus on family pets, wildlife is also impacted by trapping. Non-target species are accidently trapped, or are lured into traps or snares. They can linger for days before dying or chewing off their leg to escape.

Increasing numbers of people around the state are advocating for changes to Wyoming’s weak regulations. Suggested changes summarized from Wyoming Untrapped website: 

• Trap Setbacks – Setbacks from trails (300 feet at a minimum). Traps and snares are allowed to be placed directly on public trails and popular high activity places like campgrounds, picnic areas, ski trails, and boat ramps, without restrictions on number or types of traps. 

• Trapper Education – Many accidental pet trapping incidents occur because a new trapper sets the traps in the wrong place. Trappers are not responsible for any injuries to family members or a trapped pet. Therefore, knowing how to release your dog can save the life of the pet – or a child, and reduce medical costs. It is estimated that about 2600 trapping licenses are issued annually by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. 

• Mandatory Harvest Reports – Trappers are not required to submit harvest reports or account for non-target trapped animals. Why are trappers exempt from reporting what they harvest or non-game species captured to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department? There is no science-based decision making about trapping impacts on valuable wildlife species on public lands or the ecosystem. It is a “free for all” sport. Reporting provisions are now required for bobcats and wolves. Why hide the trapping outcomes from all other species? 

• Closure of High Use Public Lands – Closure of high use lands to trapping of furbearers and predators is simply common sense. The public should have safe areas to recreate. Visitors to the state, passing through on camping and sightseeing trips, should be made aware of trap-free areas. 

• Twenty Four-hour Trap Checks – It is cruel to allow trapped animals to linger for days in slow, agonizing deaths. In Wyoming, leg-hold traps must be checked at least every 72 hours. Some states require a 24-hour check time. The check time for body-grip, quick-kill, traps and snares can be up to 13 days. It is estimated that in 2012 more than 10,000 targeted animals were trapped. Because reporting is voluntary this is just an estimate. In addition, it is roughly estimated that the same number of pets and non-target animals are trapped each year. Source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department 2013 Annual Report. 

Two door prizes were presented at the Laramie workshop, a trap release kit from Wyoming Untrapped, and WYCAP bag from Wyoming Coalition for Animal Protection.

For data about the number of pets caught in traps in Wyoming, check out wyominguntrapped.org.