Say “NO” to I-160
Initiative 160 prohibits the trapping of all wildlife by any means on public lands in Montana. This initiative is strongly supported by animal rights activists who want public land trapping to stop, regardless of the damaging consequences it will have on Montana businesses and our economy as a whole.
Montanans have a rich history of working in industries, particularly agriculture, ranching and forestry, all of which will suffer if Initiative 160 passes. This initiative will also remove a critical wildlife management tool from home owners, ranchers, farmers and pest control professionals.
Vote NO on I-160 to protect Montana.
I-160 is Bad for Montana:
- This initiative will hurt Montana’s agriculture, ranching and forestry industries by significantly adding to the cost of doing business in Montana.
- I-160 removes an important wildlife management tool from home owners, ranchers, farmers and pest control professionals.
- This initiative will require public employees to conduct all pest control on public land, forcing the state to spend thousands of taxpayer dollars to conduct basic pest control.
- The initiative is so broadly worded, that it would ban the trapping of common pests, like moles and gophers.
- Professional wildlife biologists recognize and support the use of regulated trapping as a tool used to maintain wildlife populations.
- Trapping is an effective means of controlling problematic wildlife populations that can damage property, reduce the number of other species and spread harmful diseases, such as rabies.
- I-160 would ban trapping of all furbearing, predator and non-game species that damage livestock, crops, dikes, dams, ditches, culverts and landscaping.
- Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks regulates trapping as a wildlife management tool, just like other wildlife management tools which include antlerless deer and elk permits, season dates and lengths, bag limits, and weapon restrictions.
- Approximate 4,700 Montanans earn at least part of their livelihood through trapping and help create economic activity through their work.
- I-160 would ban trapping of all animals on all public lands in Montana, which include US Forest Service, BLM, US Fish and Wildlife Refuges, MFW&P wildlife management areas, state school trust lands, college campuses, public golf courses, public dumps, parks, any county and city owned lands and facilities and all leased public lands.
- Similar bans in other states have created significant unintended consequences. Massachusetts had their beaver population triple in 5 years after a trap ban and many municipalities had problems with drinking water contamination in their water basins and well fields. California also passed a ban and is now experiencing coyotes menacing children at bus stops and day care facilities.
It is time for the citizens of Montana to send a message to all animal right organizations that we will not stand by and allow them to continue taking away our heritage and biologically sound wildlife management tools.