The major regulation changes affecting fur harvesters for the 2002/2003 season are:

1. A special coyote hunting permit is no longer required to hunt coyotes with a rifle after the deer season.
   
2. Accidentally captured furbearers to which a trapper is not entitled may be transported immediately if the Accidental Harvest Form is completed.
   

• Mandatory Fur Harvester Courses
• Furbearer Report
• Fur Auction Dates
• Species Abundance as Recorded by Fur Harvesters
• Traps Meeting International Standards
• Trap Standards - Update on the EU Agreement and Canadian Trap Standards
• American Pine Marten in Nova Scotia
• Black Bear
• Tick Collection and Lyme Disease in Nova Scotia

Note: Due to government budget restraints, the Trappers Newsletter will not be mailed out to trappers. Trappers can pick up their copy of the Trappers Newsletter at their local area office. A limited number of copies will be made available for the general public at local district offices. Alternatively, the publication will be available on the wildlife web site, at www.gov.ns.ca/natr/wildlife/furbers/newslet/newslet.htm .

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: O'Brienms@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 Accidental catches or sightings of rare species may also be reported by calling 1 (800) 565-2224.

Courses take place each year in late September. Since 1986, 70 Fur Harvester courses have been held and there have been a total of 1423 students. Application forms are available at all local DNR offices, 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 courses 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 September15. Anyone unable to attend must also notify DNR, Wildlife Division in Kentville, otherwise their name will be removed from the course waiting list, and their registration fee forfeited.

The number of fur harvester licenses sold in the 2001-02 season increased by 4.42 % to 1516. The level of effort by those who did buy a license and catch fur has increased from 54.3% to about 61.3% in the 2001-02 season.

Average fur prices increased in almost every species with the exception of beaver, skunk, bear and weasel which moved at relaxed prices. While bobcat showed a substantial increase in average price, otter, fox and coyote had good clearances. Even the raccoon seemed to move well and had good clearances despite it’s struggles in the past few years. 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 fully prime. This may have helped influence the rising prices.

Snowshoe hares, or rabbits as we Nova Scotians call them, are an important prey species for several furbearers. Abundance rankings made by furharvesters show an overall increase in snowshoe hare across the province, with a hand full of counties showing a slight decrease. Upland game harvest survey results showed a very poor return rate for the report cards again this year. The number of snowshoe hares harvested increased slightly with an estimated harvest of 99,660 overall. The annual pellet plot surveys showed a increasing trend for snowshoe hare as well.

The bobcat harvest was up by 16.57% from the last year, with a total of 1394 animals taken. This increase probably partly reflects an increase in effort. Average prices have been increasing over the last couple of years and may have contributed to increased effort during the past season. Abundance rankings for the province have begun to show slight decreases with the exception of Annapolis, Kings, Lunenburg, Yarmouth, Pictou, Cape Breton and Antigonish counties, all of which continue to show a slight increase in rankings

The provincial beaver harvest increased by 33.91% to 5792 animals, and still remains moderately high. Pelt prices decreased slightly this year, however they are still higher than the 1998-99 season averages.

Provincial abundance rankings showed a slight increase province wide. After discussions with Department staff field 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 furbearerbag limits (suwhich 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 four 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 28.48% to a level of 625 animals. This is still in the middle of the range for harvests in recent years. The average price increased slightly from the previous year. Abundance rankings showed a marginal increase on the provincial scale, however 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 will be monitored to ensure the maintenance of a sustainable population.

Muskrat catches increased this year by 28.69 % to 18,779. This is the highest level in the last couple of years. The average price increased slightly to $5.58 which is the highest since the 1996-97. The provincial abundance levels are up slightly.

Fisher abundance rankings, provided by licensed furharvesters, took a slight increase this year, yet 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, with the remainder of the province closed. A 33.86 % increase in the harvest, brought the total catch to 127 animals. While the harvest of the past seven seasons continues to be encouraging, we will need to continue close monitoring of this species to ensure continued population recovery and expansion. A final report on the fisher live capture, translocation and habitat research project can be found in the next issue of the Trappers Newsletter. Following an offer of financial support from the Trappers Association of Nova Scotia (TANS), we plan to continue the project again this year. Additional animals will be 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 in to 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 increased by 48.29 % to a level of 2725 animals. Abundance rankings increased slightly from last year. Average price for raccoons increased from last year, with good clearance of stock by both auction houses. Outbreaks of distemper will likely continue to result in lower populations in affected areas.

Fox harvest increased by 38.39 % to a level of 797 animals. Provincial abundance rankings remained the same with slight changes in a hand full of counties. Prices increased only slightly from the previous year.

Coyote harvest increased by 47.41% to 1588 animals. This harvest was the highest since the 1994-95 season, which at that time was 1887 animals. Overall abundance rankings were up and continue on an upward climb. Average price increased slightly from the relatively stable price of the previous years.

Squirrel harvest increased significantly by 39.92 % to a level of 4251. Weasels increased by 47.81 % to 1075 animals. Skunk harvest decreased by 9.09 % to reach a level of 96. 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. Starting in the fall of 2002 trappers now have the option to take possession and transport the animal immediately, provided the Accidental Harvest Form is completed at the trap site. Upon arriving at their place of residence the trapper is obligated to call any DNR office, or calling 1-800-565-2224, 24 hours a day and report their catch. 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 or having the appropriate form filled out 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.