Rabies monitoring program expanded to Baie Verte Peninsula

Julie Bettney, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, announced today that additional trapping incentives are being offered to aid the collection of fox and coyote specimens for rabies monitoring purposes. These initiatives are in addition to those announced on January 29, 2003, that provided a trapping season extension from the scheduled closing of February 1, 2003, to a revised closing date of March 31, 2003, for the Northern Peninsula area.

Effective immediately, the extended season on the Northern Peninsula to March 31, 2003, will be expanded to also include the Baie Verte Peninsula. A revised boundary description reflecting this change is provided below. Furthermore, all fox and coyote specimens submitted will be eligible for a $150 specimen reward. Specimens may be dropped off at the nearest District Wildlife/Forestry Office. All specimens must be tagged identifying the trapper�s name, address, telephone number, date trapped and location where the animal was caught. The skins of the animals may be maintained by the trapper, or the specimens may be submitted with the skin on.

Any lynx or other furbearer accidentally taken during this period, for which no open season applies, must be submitted , with the skin on, to the nearest district office.

Trappers are advised to take all the necessary precautions when handling these animals.

Northern Peninsula - Baie Verte Extended Season Trapping Zone - Official Boundary Description:

All that area of Newfoundland encompassed by a line commencing at the Balam Bridge on Humber River, then following the North Shore Highway (Route 440 ) in an easterly direction to the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH), then following the TCH in a north easterly direction to South Brook Bridge in Halls Bay, thence following South Brook to its mouth in Halls Bay, thence following the coastline around the Baie Verte and Northern Peninsulas in a counter-clockwise direction to the point of commencement.

For further information, please contact Wayne Barney, Species Management Program at (709) 637 - 2014

Media contact: Melony O�Neill, Communications, (709) 729-0928

2003 02 18                                        4:20 p.m.