Iowa’s season for trapping and furbearing animals starts tomorrow.

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Jeremy King says that trapping used to be more prevalent when he first started with the DNR more than 20 years ago, but has fallen out of favor as the fur market has declined. He mentions that it’s hard now to make back enough money to cover fuel costs, so many of those that trap are individuals who have a passion for it.

King tells Raccoon Valley Radio that while trapping isn’t as popular, it is still vitally important.

“It’s just one of the things that trapping is very needed, as, if people do not keep animals in check and balance, then Mother Nature does it through distemper and other forms, which is very cruel, if anybody’s ever seen distemper or mange. That’s just kind of a side effect of not enough of them being harvested and kept in check.”

King explains that individuals 16 years of age or older do need a trapping license, while those who are younger than 16 do not, although youth trappers do have to have an adult with them. He adds that in Guthrie County, the animals that are commonly trapped are opossums, badgers, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats, skunks and foxes, with a few otters being trapped as well.