The Sour Face of Animal Rights

An incoming link to TSR led me to discover a fringe animal rights group called "Negotiation is Over."  Nothing like advertising your lack of civility and reason!  Most people would not be proud of such shortcomings but I guess some wear their bitterness as a badge.  The website is a soupy mixture of communism, terrorism advocacy and "animal liberation."

Power to the cockroaches!

Just a sample of their manifesto:

We form this new group out of the need for a radical social approach to veganism and animal rights that transcends bourgeois liberalism; the need for a global Left that renounces speciesism and all other ancient and lingering prejudices and forms of oppression; the need for post-hierarchical worldviews and democratic and ecological societies; and the need for total liberation and revolutionary transformation.

Good Lord, it must be exhausting to be one of these non-negotiators.  So many things to be against, and so much to transcend, liberate, transform, etc.  It's a tough row to hoe, trying to erase human history and remake the planet by blogging.   

I wonder if these people have any joy in life, with the world being such an oppressive place and all.  Their website is dark and angry.  I know a few liberals who have some sense of humor but I guess the further left you go the more dour and humorless you have to be.

I'm guessing that "Negotiation is Over" will never really blossom beyond the ivory tower into a popular movement.  Unless you are trying to elicit blank stares, you need a rallying cry a bit more interpretable than "Join us in a radical social approach to veganism and animal rights that transcends bourgeois liberalism!"  That's a bit much.  "Hope and change" is more on the popular level (but just as meaningless).

Every trapper I know is a sensible person, willing to talk and debate, and able to appreciate what's good in the world.  I never met a militant trapper who angrily tries to force his way of life on others or advocate terrorism.  Evidently our biggest assets in the ongoing "animal rights" debate are the qualities of civility and reason.  If the other side lacks even these, maybe it's all we need to win.

So, stay reasonable, friendly and open-minded.  It's always the best bet.  

Conibear Boxes for Coons

Tim in PA shares some pictures of how he makes conibear boxes for his 'coon line.  It's always helpful to see a few pictures and get ideas from what other trappers are doing.  Thanks Tim!

Bobcat Set Locations

Travis Chilson of New Mexico sent in a few tips on set locations along with some general pointers for bobcat trapping.  Thanks Travis!

Chicago Hires Coyotes for Rodent Control

Lately the news is filled with stories of coyotes roaming urban areas and causing a stir among protective parents, so I was a little surprised to come across this story.  Officials in Chicago are actually releasing GPS collared coyotes on city streets at night in order to combat the rodent population.  In reference to concerns about this tactic, one Chicago animal control official said of the coyote, "He's not a threat.  He's not going to pick up your children."

So, while some cities are hiring animal control specialists to trap and remove them, Chicago is actually employing them.  It's a funny world we live in.....

 

A Lesson on Location

Ever have trouble picking the best locations for your sets?  If so, this article is a must-read!  Don Wilson from Indiana has provided this excellent illustrated article on how he picks productive locations when trapping canines.  I'm sure that most trappers will find this material VERY helpful, and the catch pics are great.  Many thanks to Mr. Wilson for sharing these insights.