Mother Otters Are Being Killed for Their Fur and Babies Are Left to Die – Sign Petition to Stop This!

Otters desperately need your help! A petition from months ago by local trappers is now being considered by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board. The problem? If the petition is accepted by the board, the trapping season for North American River Otters will be extended until March, when there is a higher risk of trapping pregnant females or females with dependent young.

According to a counter petition on Care2, this change would increase trappings by five times. For each mother that is killed, up to five of her pups will also die. Sometimes trappers set devices underwater so otters then drown inside the device as the are trying to free themselves. The only people that would benefit are trappers, who sell the pelts of the otters at auction internationally. And of course, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department would make money off of this extension by collecting the trappers’ license money.

“There’s no biological need to kill otters. They’re killed mostly for their fur, and some are considered to be a nuisance,” said Brenna Galdenzi, president of Protect Our Wildlife (POW), a group working to reform wildlife policies in Vermont.

If you agree that putting the lives of female otters and their pups at risk over making a quick buck is unacceptable, please sign this urgent petition. 

Otters in North America have been saved from extinction thanks to awareness programs, reintroductions, and strong protection. Expanding the trapping season would do nothing more but put the otter population at risk. Otters undeniably adorable, but they also play key roles in ecosystems and like all animals, should be allowed to live their life in peace with their families.

Sign this quick petition and forward the link to all the animal lovers you know. You can also submit a public comment, by emailing anr.fwpubliccomment@vermont.gov and the VFW commissioner at louis.porter@vermont.gov. It’s up to us to speak up for those who cannot!

Image source: hamikus/Pixabay