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7 <br /> strengthening the ecosystem of which all are a part. The next <br /> question, does trapping prevent starvation? The answer is almost <br /> certainly NO Actually, trapping kills healthy, active animals <br /> that are out searching for food, attempting to breed, etc. Sick, <br /> starving, or diseased animals tend to be inactive and do not <br /> travel the wooded "trails" where trappers set traps. The fact <br /> is, trapping is cruel commercial exploitation of our wildlife <br /> that this twentieth century nation and wildlife can live without. <br /> Trapping and Starvation <br /> Trappers claim that trapping is necessary to prevent <br /> starvation in wild animals. Such an assertion is ludicrous. <br /> Trapping is done because animal pelts are valuable. A few years <br /> ago, bobcat pelts were selling for as much as $650. each and <br /> bobcats were trapped in large numbers. All wild animals are <br /> potentially subject to starvation, but trappers seek to trap the <br /> valuable ones. No one has ever heard of trappers wanting to trap <br /> chickadees, cardinals, and many other "nongame" animals, even <br /> though all are subject to the rigors of winter and possible <br /> starvation. Trappers should be honest about their reasons for <br /> trapping, and the public should ban trapping as it has many other <br /> commercial uses of wildlife. <br /> Trapping and Being Emotional <br /> Many people in (name of community) want to end the cruelty <br /> and brutality caused by commercial trapping of fur animals. <br /> Trappers charge us with being "emotional. " Of course we are <br /> emotional; the subject is the destruction of millions of <br /> innocent, beautiful wild animals each year in the United States <br /> for the vanity of furs. Millions of nontarget animals, including <br /> pets, endangered species, and waterfowl, are also killed or <br /> maimed each year. Pet owners walking their pet in the woods <br /> watch and listen in horror as their pet 's head and leg are mashed <br /> in a trap. This cruelty is enough to make anyone justifiably <br /> emotional. Trapping is an antiquated form of cruelty and <br /> barbarism that should be banned. <br /> Trapping and License Fees <br /> Trappers often attempt to justify the commercial trapping of <br /> animals with the suggestion that license fees from trappers are <br /> dedicated to wildlife conservation. In my opinion, this is the <br /> kind of help that true conservation can do without. Trapping <br /> license fees are generally applied to the budgets of the state <br /> fish and game agencies to supervise activities associated with <br />