Cattaraugus Territory
Submitted by Officer William Brooks
Trapping has always been a part of our tribe’s way of life. We have trapped for several reasons. We have used the furs for clothing, the meat to supplement our food supply. We have even used the bones and other parts of animals for tools. Bartering or trading furs, between other tribes and the European settlers was also a common goal for trapping.
In modem times, trapping has been used in the clothing industry, as well as the food industry and has even been used to help make perfume. Trapping, for me, has primarily been nuisance trapping. Nuisance trapping means removal of animals via trapping that hinder or disrupt the human way of life. With the development of homes and buildings, the encroachment into the animals living space has put them closer to human existence thus creating more need for animal removal/ nuisance trapping. Although the need for trapping has risen, the numbers of active trappers has declined due to the drastic drop in fur prices which, in turn, causes the number of fur bearing animals to increase.
Benefits of trapping are not only monetary or the selling of the furs harvested. Getting outdoors and exploring the wilderness is great exercise. Also, trapping teaches respect for the environment as well as for your fellow trappers. Learning the lands we live on is also an added benefit.
