I read a couple of nice stories about trappers this weekend. If you have a few minutes, they are worth a read.

Steve Gilliland wrote a piece for The Kansan on the Kansas Fur Harvesters’ annual fall convention that he attended this weekend. He reflected on the experience and on trapping in general:

"Yes, we are trappers; part of a waning breed that once helped shape our country. We are at the same time sportsmen, conservationists, public image technicians, innovators and teachers. We trap in the farm country of the Midwest rather than in Rocky Mountain streams, we drive pickups rather than ride horses and pack mules, we wear jeans and overalls rather than buckskin, and we use modern day traps rather than the antiques of our ancestors, but our spirits remain the same."

And Connie Mertz of the Daily Item in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, wrote a story about the Mohns, a family of trappers from the Hamburg, Pennsylvania area. Brian Mohn, the father of the three trapping daughters featured in the story, is the District 11 Director of the Pennsylvania Trappers Association. His daughters not only have an interest in trapping and in teaching it to others, but they also work to educate non-trappers on the importance of the sport:

The girls know full well that not everyone agrees with trapping, and each of them is quick to defend it. "Trapping is frowned on by people in general," Beverly said.

Now a student at Lincoln Tech in Allentown, she refuted a teacher who said it was wrong to trap red foxes because they were scarce. "She was surprised when I corrected her, saying that southeast Pennsylvania and Maryland have the largest population of red fox in the country."

Carolyn takes time to explain the benefits associated with trapping. "I tell them how it helps with population control, and helps to control diseases of rabies or mange. It is also a tradition that goes deep into American history, and it is great to know that I am continuing this tradition."

Judy thinks that people are opposed to it because they have been told horror stories. "They are not educated about it."

I hope you're having luck out on your traplines. Send in stories and photos to jared.blohm@fwmedia.com and I'll post them up on the blog.

Muskrat numbers in the Northeast continue to fall and many furbearer biologists consider it the number one concern in the area right now.

Trapper Harold Bischoff of Wilford, Idaho caught an albino skunk earlier this week.

If you have a unique trapping story and would like to be featured on the Trapper & Predator Caller blog, send your story and photos to jared.blohm@fwpubs.com.

As people continue to expand and build into former wilderness areas, we'll see more and more animal overpopulation problems. While this is certainly not a positive, it may provide opportunities for trappers.

For example, North Carolina is experiencing animal control problems in a number of growing areas. A recent article in The News & Observer, which is based in Raleigh, details the rising number of accounts from suburbanites who spot coyotes, foxes, bears, alligators and more. In Davidson County, in central North Carolina, fox populations are growing out of control and the Board of Commissioners is petitioning the General Assembly to allow fox trapping, which has been outlawed there since the 1970s. Coyotes are also posing a problem in the area and while coyote trapping is legal, trappers have not been able to avoid catching the overpopulated foxes.

Trapping is often portrayed in a negative light, but situations like those in North Carolina can provide trappers with a high-profile opportunity to show non-trappers that trapping is not only a humane and ethical practice when done correctly, but also that it is necessary to manage otherwise largely uncontrolled animal populations.

You know how excited you get when you first spot that coyote or fox charging through the woods directly at you as it responds to your call? We're almost that excited today. That's because today our new site launches!

It's always exciting to be involved in something ground-level, and we're sure the new site will only increase the enjoyment and expert knowledge you receive here on both trapping and predator hunting.

There's virtually nothing we're afraid to discuss and it's open season on any issue pertaining to trapping or predators. So, welcome to The Trap Line Blog and be sure to check it often. The blog that is.

And let us know how you like the new site, won't you?