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September 23, 2003Traverse City considers kill trap banCommission to vote on issue on Oct. 6ByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - City commissioners are studying an ordinance to protect critters from animal traps within the city limits - including a ban on kill traps. The ordinance would prohibit trapping in the city unless an animal is damaging private property, and require that only live traps be used. A resident this summer complained that a neighbor was trapping and killing a variety of animals including rabbits, raccoons, ducks, squirrels, pets and more. City police investigated the complaint but didn't find any wrongdoing, Chief Michael Warren said. "We had an allegation - we didn't see any evidence of (the neighbor) violating the law," the chief said. "Once we talked to the (individual), that was the end of it." Peter Mikowski, whose animal trapping activity at his home on East Front Street prompted the proposed ordinance, blamed his situation on "grumpy" neighbors. He says the city has done a poor job handling nuisance animals. "I don't think (city authorities) know the damage the animals are doing," Mikowski said. "Let the city get rid of the animals - I'm tired of dealing with it." Mikowski said he used to utilize both kill and live traps to protect his garden from animal damage. He currently uses only live traps because he didn't want a domestic pet injured or killed by one of his traps, he said, but argues the city shouldn't be regulating such issues. "I think they should leave it alone," Mikowski said. "Let the people who have private property take care of it." State law establishes seasons for trapping some animals like beavers or minks, and allows other animals like raccoons to be trapped year-round if they are damaging property, said Sgt. Jeff Gaither, a conservation officer with the state Department of Natural Resources. The state's trapping rules generally don't differentiate between using live traps and kill traps. Still, the complaint about Mikowski upset commissioners to the extent that they asked the city attorney's office to draft the ordinance. Any animal caught in a live trap must be released in an "appropriate location" under the ordinance, although the rules would not apply to mousetraps or similar devices. "I can't foresee any situation where (kill traps) would be necessary," commissioner Anne Melichar said. "A kill trap is too inhumane - it shouldn't be used in the city. " The commission will consider adopting the new restrictions at its next regular meeting Oct. 6.
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