The major regulation changes affecting fur harvesters for the 2001/2002 season are:

• Any leghold trap set for bobcat, lynx or coyote must be modified improving humaneness by such means as laminating, offsetting or padding the jaws, or using a trap that incorporates a snare, or other similar effective means.
  
  
• You may submit your furharvesters report form via Internet by filling out the form which can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/doc/FHform3.htm
  
  
• The season for hunting and snaring rabbits is now November 1 to the last day of February. Dogs may not be used to hunt rabbits from November 1 to November 15.
  
  

• Mandatory Fur Harvester Courses
• Furbearer Report
• Species Abundance as Recorded by Fur Harvesters
• Traps Meeting Requirements of Agreement
• Black Bear Harvest/License Sales
• Nuisance Wildlife Operators Association
• Trap Standards - Update on the EU Agreement and Canadian Trap Standards
• Important News for Trappers
• Canadian Trap Certification Program Program

Note: Due to government budget restraints, the Trappers Newsletter will only be mailed out to trappers who held a license during the 2000/2001, season. A limited number of copies will be made available for pick up at local district offices. Alternatively, the publication will be available on the wildlife web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/furbers/newslet

Anyone seeking further information on furbearer management or wishing to provide input to the Department of Natural Resources should contact their local office, a Regional Biologist, or the Furbearer and Upland Game Section of DNR, Attn.:Mike O'Brien, 136 Exhibition Street Kentville, N.S. - B4N 4E5. By e-mail: obrienms@gov.ns.ca Phone: (902) 679-6091 Fax: (902) 679-6176. The Furbearer Section, including Trappers Newsletter, is on the Internet: http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/furbers/furbs.htm

Courses take place each year in late September. Since 1986, 67 Fur Harvester courses have been held and there have been a total of 1358 students. Application forms are available at all local DNR offices, or, www.trappersassociationofnovascotia.ca/course.html and may be submitted throughout the year. Registration and payment must be received by TANS secretary not later than August 15 in order to guarantee a place in a course for the fall. Students registered by August 15 will receive notification of their course date and location in early September. Participants are required to confirm their attendance by September 15. Anyone unable to attend must also notify DNR, Wildlife Division in Kentville. Failure to do so will result in removal of their name from the course waiting list, and their registration fee forfeited.

The number of fur harvester licenses sold in the 00/01 season decreased by 2.3% to 1449. The level of effort by those who did buy a license and catch fur has dropped from 57% to about 54.1% in the 00/01 season.

Fur prices increased in almost every species with the exception of otter, mink and fox and coyote. Raccoons seem to be an easier sell and may continue to have better clearance at the auction houses with buyers from Russia coming back on line. Many trappers did not trap early in the season, mainly because of poor forecast for early unprimed fur and waited to go after fur when it was prime. This may have had an influence on the rising prices.

Snowshoe hares or rabbits, as many Nova Scotians call them, are an important prey species for several furbearers. Abundance rankings made by furharvesters and small game hunters show an overall decline in snowshoe hare across the province. Upland game harvest survey results also showed a decrease in both the number of respondents and the number of snowshoe hares harvested, with an estimated harvest of 90,583 overall. The annual provincial pellet plot surveys showed a decreasing trend for snowshoe hare as well. Snowshoe hare are definitely at a low point in their cycle.

The bobcat harvest was down by 17% from the last year, with a total of 1163 animals taken. Average prices have been increasing over the last couple of years and may have contributed to increased effortduring the past season despite the large amount of snow. Abundance rankings for the mainland continue to show slight increases with the exception of Annapolis, Kings, Colchester, and Guysborough counties. All four Cape Breton counties report a slight drop. The proportion of kittens in the harvest as well as the percent pregnant yearling females, is not available this year due to the fact that no collections were made.

The provincial beaver harvest declined by 7.22 % to 3828 animals, but still remains moderately high. Pelt prices increased slightly, again this year, however are not quite up to 97/98 season averages.

Provincial abundance rankings showed a slight decrease province wide. After discussions with Department field staff and trappers, the bag limits have been set at the same levels as last year in all four zones. We recognize the fact that trappers often trap other aquatic furbearers ( such as muskrat, otters, and mink) over a geographic area that extends beyond the boundaries of the beaver zone in which they permanently reside. As a result, regulations were recently changed to allow trappers to retain beaver taken in any zone. This is provided that they do not exceed in total, the bag limit for the zone in which they permanently reside, and do not take in any one zone more than the bag limit for that zone. It appears that after three years this change has not resulted in any major harvest management problems, and is providing us with an improved picture of the geographic distribution of our beaver harvest.

Otter harvests have increased this year, by 1.56% to a level of 447 animals. This is still in the middle of the range for harvests in recent years and appears to be levelling off. The average price dropped slightly from the previous year, however remains relatively high compared with the last 10 years. Abundance rankings showed a marginal increase on the provincial scale. This marks the 3rd year in a row for an increase however, abundance estimates remain in the low to medium range. We are again collecting otter carcasses this year to continue to improve our understanding of what is happening with the otter population. Preliminary results suggest that otter, like other fish-eating species, are being affected in some parts of Nova Scotia by environmental mercury contamination. The status of this species continued to be monitored to ensure the maintenance of a sustainable population.

Muskrat catches continue to drop again this year, dropping by 15.56 % to 13,391. This is the lowest level since the 93/94 season. The average price increased slightly to $4.36 which is consistent with 97/98 levels. The provincial abundance rankings are down slightly.

Fisher abundance rankings, provided by licensed furharvesters took a slight drop this year, keeping fisher in the low range. Regulations remain the same this season allowing retention of one accidentally caught fisher, in Cumberland, Colchester and Pictou counties, and the remainder of the province is closed. A 26.95 % drop in the harvest, brought the total catch to 84 animals. While the harvest of the past five seasons continues to be encouraging, we will need to continue close monitoring of this species to ensure continued population recovery and expansion. Following an offer of financial support from the Trappers Association of Nova Scotia TANS), we plan to continue the project again this year, with additional animals being live- trapped and moved from Colchester, Cumberland and Pictou counties to the south central part of the province. This will hopefully bolster fisher numbers there, and eventually connect the eastern and western fisher populations. To increase the impact of this program and to protect relocated animals, regulations will remain the same as last year: trappers resident in Cumberland, Colchester or Pictou counties will be able to retain one accidentally caught fisher if caught in Cumberland, Colchester or Pictou counties only. Fisher that are accidentally caught in all other areas of the province must be turned into DNR, at least for the duration of this project. As with all seasons and bag limits, this regulation will be reviewed annually.

Raccoon harvests have dropped again by 30.17% to a level of 1409 animals. Abundance rankings have dropped slightly from last year. Average price for raccoons increased by more than double from the previous year, with good clearance of stock by both auction houses. This could be a good sign for raccoon trappers. Outbreaks of distemper will likely continue to result in lower populations in affected areas, around the province

Fox harvest decreased by 25.8% to a level of 491 animals. Abundance rankings increased somewhat provincially Prices increased only slightly from the previous year however, these averages are at the highest point in more than 13 years.

Coyote harvest decreased by 39.84% to 835 animals. This harvest was the lowest since the 91/92 season, which at that time was 865 animals. Overall abundance rankings were up and continue on an upward climb. Average price stayed relatively stable at the $25.00 range.

Squirrel harvest increased significantly by 41.47% to a level of 2539. Weasels on the other hand decreased by 51.47% to 561 animals. Skunk harvest decreased by 56.27% to reach a level of 108. Lynx and marten continue to be taken accidentally each year and trappers should make every effort to avoid accidental capture of these species.

Furharvesters who accidentally catch protected species or animals in excess of their bag limits should try to release them alive if practical. If not practical, you must report your catch to an office of the Department of Natural Resources before it is removed from the trap site: This may be done by calling any DNR office, or calling 1-800-565-2224, 24 hours a day. The office will advise you on how to handle the situation. Anyone found in the position of an animal to which they are not entitled without first notifying the Department may be charged. Most animals turned in to DNR are used for demonstration and pelt handling training at the TANS annual workshop. These pelts along with other pelts which are turned into the Department are then given to the Trappers Association of Nova Scotia. Proceeds from the sale of pelts are used to support trapper education.