This report was funded by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (Grant Number F15AP00159), a program supported with funds from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and jointly managed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Trapping Matters Professional Development Workshops

Regulated trapping can be among the most contentious and least understood of all programs within an agency’s wildlife responsibilities. Many agencies have staff unfamiliar with trapping, and as a result avoid discussions of them because of their lack of knowledge. A Trapping Matters professional development grant was awarded to the Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation, whose team worked with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, The Wildlife Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and state fish and wildlife agencies to deliver workshops related to regulated trapping. The grant’s purpose was to advance awareness and communication skills related to regulated trapping among agency professionals and to increase understanding of best management practices in the United States. The resulting efforts were effective and well received. Specific achievements included providing nationwide workshops for state agencies, increased awareness of best management practices and improvements to the participants’ abilities to understand and explain regulated trapping activities. Additionally, these workshops were a catalyst to update survey data about attitudes towards trapping and have provided a model for data and program delivery that can be continued. By controlling costs and leveraging partnerships, we exceeded the number of planned workshops covered by the grant. A total of 248 professionals attended seven workshops held across the United States. These professionals represented more than 50 entities, including state and federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations and academic institutions. The curriculum included an explanation of important messages and communication strategies related to regulated trapping; practical demonstrations of traps and their use; a review of existing information resources on trapping; an overview of best management practices and their use; profiles of modern trappers and their motivations; and the role regulated trapping plays in the North American Model of Wildlife Management. Open discussions and experiential activities were used to make the lessons interactive, enjoyable and of high professional value. Results were extremely positive. The average ratings among participants of all core competencies for the workshops were “Excellent” (72 percent) or “Very Good” (28 percent). Notably, participants repeatedly cited the value of learning more about the trapping best management practices process and enhancing their understanding of how to effectively explain regulated trapping’s role to others. “Participating in the Trapping Matters Workshop was very beneficial to the work of our Government Affairs Team,” said Keith Norris, The Wildlife Society’s director of Government Affairs & Partnerships. “By developing a more in-depth understanding of trappers, trapping equipment, methods, and terminology through hands-on activities and in-class discussions, we are now better equipped to discuss trapping as a necessary and effective component of wildlife management and conservation with policy makers.”

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Catherine Sparks, assistant director for Natural Resources in the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, added: “For me, and others, the human dimension elements were enlightening. The mix of attendees backgrounds and the way the instructors engaged the group provided for lively and thought provoking experience; the messaging tools were both simple and on target. Feedback from staff was unanimously positive!” When asked how we might improve the workshops, participants suggested the need to discuss individual topics in greater depth, the need for more current research on public attitudes towards trapping, and the need to re-evaluate communications strategies in light of social media and other emerging trends. This led to the recognition that we cannot cover every topic to the desired degree in a one-day workshop, given that interest varies among participants. But it was clear that the current data need to be updated quickly. Two additional national surveys were conducted in partnership with AFWA. The results of these surveys will be distributed to all participants as a follow-up and extension of their Trapping Matters workshop experience. Due to high demand, more Trapping Matters workshops are planned and will be hosted by state fish and wildlife agencies or The Wildlife Society. In addition to delivering its stated goals, this grant provided the catalyst to organize and expand the curriculum and continue to offer workshops to those who have a stated need.

Trapping Matters Workshop Locations and Attendance 2015-16 Location Date Participants Hadley, Mass. September 2015 44 NEFWC, Annapolis, Md. April 2016 25 Westborough, Mass. Aug. 3, 2016 54 IHEA Conference, Vermont May 2016 27 Bend, Ore. July 13, 2016 51 SEAFWA, Asheville, N.C. Oct. 15, 2016 31 Frankfort, Ky. Sept. 24, 2016 16

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Survey Summary The following includes statistics and feedback from participants gathered anonymously immediately after each workshop. Participating Organizations

State and Federal Agencies

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control

District of Columbia Government

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Maine Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife

Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fish and Parks

National Shooting Sports Foundation

New Hampshire Fish and Game Department

North Carolina Resources Commission

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Oregon State Police

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

U.S. Forest Service

USDA Wildlife Services

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Wisconsin Trappers Association Members

Wyoming Game and Fish Department

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Professional

Frontier

All Creatures Wildlife

Klamath Tribes

High Desert Museum

Oregon Trappers Association

The Wildlife Society

SIMS Environmental Consulting

Universities

Unity College

Antioch College

University of West Virginia

University of Massachusetts

University of Vermont

Haywood Community College

University of Tennessee

Clemson University

University of North Carolina-Greensboro

West Virginia University

University of Virginia

University of Southern Mississippi

Oregon State University

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Appendix: Selected Survey Results

Overall Workshop Evaluations Core Competencies Excellent Very good Instructor Knowledge 86 percent 14 percent Delivery style of Instructors 63 percent 33 percent Value of Information 71 percent 26 percent Objectives clearly stated 67 percent 26 percent 248 participants ranked the workshop using the following satisfaction ranking: a) Excellent, b) Very Good, c) Average, d) Poor, e) Very Poor

Do you feel you are more knowledgable about

technical aspects of trapping?

A great deal 37%

Moderately 34%

Somewhat 20%

Other 9%

Do you feel you are more familiar with issues

surrounding trapping?

A great deal 46%

Moderately 41%

Somewhat 13%

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Do you feel more familiar with the BMP

process as it relates to improving trapping

and assurances of animal welfare?

A great deal 46%

Moderately 38%

Somewhat 9%

Other 7%

Do you feel you are more knowledgable

about how to communicate about trapping

to others?

A great deal 56%

Moderately 32%

Somewhat 9%

Other 3%

Do you feel you overall are better prepared

to discuss trapping with the public?

A great deal 37%

Moderately 36%

Somewhat 16%

Other 11%

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What specific information from the workshop stands out as particularly useful or

helpful in addressing your misconceptions? The role of best management

practices in improving trapping methods

Communicating trapping to the public

Terminology

Public attitudes and key messages about trapping

Demographic information/trapper statistics What did you enjoy or find most helpful about the workshop?

Experience of the instructors

Diversity of understanding and opinion of trapping among participants

Effective communication of trapping-related subjects

Hands-on demonstrations

Networking

The open discussions

Historical survey and opinions information

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Furbearer Management Professional Development Workshops

Regulated trapping is among the most contentious and least understood of all

programs within an agency’s wildlife responsibilities. It is important for agency

staff to have a comprehensive and fundamental understanding of the technical,

legal and biological elements of trapping, yet professional training in these skills is

often hard to acquire.

A professional development grant was awarded to the Max McGraw Wildlife

Foundation, whose staff worked collaboratively with the Association of Fish and

Wildlife Agencies, The Wildlife Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and

state fish and wildlife agencies to deliver professional development workshops

related to furbearer management and regulated trapping. The grant’s purpose was

to advance understanding of biological, legal, communication and management

techniques among agency professionals.

The “Fur School” workshops consisted of a four-day hands-on program for

professionals whose primary responsibilities include furbearer ecology and

management. The curriculum included trapping field techniques, Best

Management Practices, understanding of survey techniques, management

strategies, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild

Fauna and Flora, furbearer diseases, and trapper and hunter effort surveys.

Particular emphasis was placed on integrating communications techniques

developed with the “Trapping Matters” curriculum into the Fur Schools.

The results were effective and well received. Seventy-eight participants from 17

state and federal wildlife agencies and two universities participated in workshops

at four locations. Specific achievements included providing nationwide coverage

to the states, increased awareness of best management practices, and

improvements to the participants’ abilities to understand and communicate about

regulated trapping.

Results were extremely positive. In post-workshop surveys, participants

repeatedly cited the value of an improved understanding of trapping best

management practices and an enhanced understanding of how to convey the role

of trapping to others. Ninety-five percent of attendees indicated that the seminars

would directly help them with their job duties by enhancing their credibility and

communications skills, among other factors.

This report was funded by the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (Grant Number F15AP00159), a program supported with funds from the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program and jointly managed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Participating Organizations

State and Federal Agencies

Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

Idaho Department of Fish and Game

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission

Milwaukee Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture

Nevada Department of Wildlife

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

New York State DEC Division of Law Enforcement

North Dakota Game and Fish Department

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Commissioner

Pennsylvania Game Commission

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife Division of Law Enforcement

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

West Virginia Department of Natural Resources

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Colleges

State University of New York

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Workshop location Date # of Participants

Midwest- Madison, Wis. March 21-25, 2016 18 Northwest-Lewiston, Idaho May 16-19, 2016 18 Northeast- Newcomb, N.Y. June 6-10, 2016 16 Southeast- Frankfort, Ky. Oct. 3-7, 2016 26

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Post Workshop Survey Results

The following presentations were ranked highest by participants in terms of the information presented:

Fur auctions, marketing and fur grading

Best Management Practices for trapping

Trapper regulations and enforcement

Furbearer diseases/parasites

Trap incidents

Traps and research

The following presentations and activities were ranked most relevant by participants:

Trapper identification

Communications

Best Management Practices for Trapping

Trap setting and checking

Furbearer handling Participants identified trap setting and checking and furbearer handling as two topics that needed more in-depth information. Feedback

95 percent of participants said they would use the information they learned at Fur School in their specific job duties

100 percent of participants said they would recommend Fur School to colleagues

72.9 percent of participants rated the overall fur school experience as excellent

27.1 percent of participants rated their experience as very good

100 percent of participants in two workshops agreed that Fur School was worth their time and effort

Participants said Fur School will give them better credibility and foster better communication with the public and fellow trappers

Selected survey responses

Did the Fur School workshop provide a learning environment where you obtained adequate

feedback?

81 percent of the participants said that they always received adequate feedback

19 percent of the participants said that most of the time they received adequate feedback

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How important is a working knowledge of trapping and furbearer ecology to the development of

natural resources professionals?

75 percent of participants said it was very important

22 percent of participants said it was important

3 percent said unimportant or did not know Do you believe trappers are concerned about their ethical conduct in the field?

48 percent of participants think that trappers are very concerned about their ethical conduct

45 percent of participants think that trappers are somewhat concerned

4 percent think not at all

3 percent do not know What is the impact of trapping on conservation?

79 percent of participants believe that trapping is very beneficial

21 percent believe trapping is somewhat beneficial