Trapping season is open. If you see an animal near a road or in a field, it may be in a trap.

Remember, it is illegal to:

•Disturb traps
•Disturb any wild animal caught in a trap
•Shoot an animal that is caught in someone else’s trap

Any individual convicted of disturbing traps will lose any MDIFW license in effect and be ineligible to purchase any license issued by MDIFW for 3 years.

Canada lynx may be in the area

Canada lynx are a federally listed Threatened Species. There is no open season for the trapping or hunting of lynx in Maine. It is a violation of state & federal law to shoot a lynx.

Lynx can be found in northern and western Maine, which is considered the lynx protection zone (shaded in gray in the map).

How to identify lynx from bobcat:

 

Canada lynx
•longer ear tufts (1″ or longer)
•longer facial ruff
•shorter and completely black-tipped tail
•large and well-furred feet (>3″ track)
•uniform coat color
•buff-colored hind foot

 

 

Bobcat
•shorter ear tufts (absent to 1″)
•shorter facial ruff – more round face
•tail black-tipped on top and white underneath
•smaller feet (2″ track)
•less-uniform coat (white underbelly, spotted)
•chocolate brown along back of hind foot

 

Questions?
Call the lynx hotline at 207-592-4734 or visit mefishwildlife.com/trappinglaws

In the unlikely event that your dog gets caught in a trap, stay calm and follow these steps
A dog’s reaction to being caught in a foothold trap can vary from calm to frightened. Foothold traps are designed to hold an animal by the foot, and not injure the animal. Our biologists use foothold traps to catch and release endangered species unharmed. The most common type of foothold trap used in Maine is shown here. If your dog gets caught in one of them, follow these steps:

 

 

 

Stay calm and get help: If available, get a second person to assist you.

Protect yourself: Some dogs may be calm, others may be frightened and attempt to bite, especially as the trap is removed from their foot. Protect yourself by securing the dog’s muzzle using a jacket or vest, or by placing a barrier between you and the dog.

Open the trap: If possible, put the trap flat on the ground. To open the trap, push down using your hands or feet on the levers located at either end of the jaws (see arrows in the photos).This will release tension on the jaws and allow you to remove the dog’s foot.

Respect the trapper, and obey the law: It is unlawful to take or destroy a trap without permission from the owner.

Prevent Future Incidents: Trappers commonly use lures and urine to attract furbearers such as foxes and coyotes. You can train your dog to avoid trap locations by utilizing these scents in mock trap sets.