The Lemon Creek Trail in Juneau seen Monday. "Sharing the Trails," hosted by Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Juneau Chapter of the Alaska Trappers Association, is a presentation meant to educate the public on trapping in Juneau, such as where traps are located, how they operate and what to do if you come across one.

The Lemon Creek Trail in Juneau seen Monday. "Sharing the Trails," hosted by Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Juneau Chapter of the Alaska Trappers Association, is a presentation meant to educate the public on trapping in Juneau, such as where traps are located, how they operate and what to do if you come across one.

Event focuses on sharing trails, ‘demystifying trapping’

Trapping, an outdoors activity commonly associated with the Last Frontier, actually happens farther from home than many people might imagine — or at least Juneau trails.

This is what the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the Juneau Chapter of the Alaska Trappers Association want to educate the public on, especially dog walkers and other trail users.

At the “Sharing the Trails” presentation happening today from 7-9 p.m. at the Dzantik’I Heeni Middle School library, ADFG and Juneau trappers will educate the public on where trapping is and isn’t allowed, how traps work and what to do if they are encountered.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Riley Woodford, the information officer for the Division of Wildlife Conservation, told the Empire that the event is meant “to demystify trapping.” Every year, he explained, ADFG holds the “Sharing the Trails” event during trapping season to alleviate people’s concerns about running into a trap while enjoying the outdoors. Woodford, who has attended and helped organize the last several years’ events, said people are a bit apprehensive when they walk in the door, but relax when they understand that traps are usually far away from where people walk with their canine companions.

These situations happen periodically, which is why there is community concern and why ADFG holds these presentations to educate the public. In March 2008, a basset hound was caught in a conibear trap on the Eagle River Trail in Juneau and died; it was determined to be in an area legal for trapping. In December 2014, a bald eagle was caught in a snare on the Davies Creek Trail and was freed by a Juneau woman, who also sprung nearby traps to protect her dogs, she said, which got her into legal trouble; the freed eagle later had to be euthanized. Also in December 2014, a chocolate lab was caught in a foothold style trap set illegally on Point Lena Trail. The dog was not badly injured.

At today’s event, two different types of traps — the conibear and a long spring foothold trap — will be shown; both are used for small animals like weasels, martens and beaver. People will be taught where they will be located and how they work. Participants will also be shown how to release their pets from these traps in case a situation ever occurs.

Woodford said the most common type of trapping that happens in Southeast Alaska is for marten, which are almost exclusively trapped in trees in a kind of box which he said is comparable to the size and shape of an Empire mail box.

With marten traps, they must be five feet above the ground, and if it has snowed, they must be five feet above the snow line. These traps must be 50 yards away from all roads and trails.

Trapping is closed a quarter of a mile off the coast on the mainland between the end of Thane Road to Echo Cove. All traps must be a quarter of a mile from all coastline on the mainland (and Douglas) as well as a quarter of the mile away from all roads and trails (the one exception being marten).

“People cannot trap on the wetlands, Auke Lake, basically anywhere in the Mendenhall Valley,” Woodford said.

Trapping is fairly restricted in the Juneau area, Woodford said, and usually trappers go to Admiralty Island or the backside of Douglas to do trapping.

For anyone who wishes to learn more about trapping but cannot make the presentation, they can go to “Sharing the Trails” on the ADFG website to see videos on how to release a pet from traps and snares as well as access more trapping and trail information on the sidebar: adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=trapping.main.

• Contact Clara Miller at 523-2243 or at clara.miller@juneauempire.com.

More in News

(Juneau Empire file photo)
Aurora forecast through the week of March 16

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

U.S. Sen. Dan. Sullivan (R-Alaska) walks through a hallway of protesters with his wife, Julie Fate Sullivan, before his annual address to the Alaska Legislature on Thursday, March 20, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Sullivan generates warmth and heat with energy filled speech to Alaska Legislature

Senator takes barrage of friendly and confrontational questions from lawmakers about Trump’s agenda.

Research biologists pause among the wetlands of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain, with the Brooks Range in the background. The Trump administration is taking steps to offer the entire coastal plain for oil and gas leasing, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said on Thursday. (Lisa Hupp/USFWS)
Interior secretary announces plans to advance new Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil leasing

Follow-ups to Trump executive orders will mean leasing across ANWR, wider NPR development.

The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Storis near Tampa, Florida, on Dec. 10, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Storis icebreaker expected to make ceremonial visit to Juneau this summer, officials say

Coast Guard icebreaker set to be homeported locally will still need further upgrades for deployment.

The Columbia state ferry docks at the Auke Bay Ferry Terminal on March 4. (Laurie Craig / For the Juneau Empire)
Alaska Marine Highway’s long-range plan met with skepticism and concerns

Residents decry loss of service, Murkowski says “once-in-a-generation” funding opportunity in peril.

Salmon dries on a traditional rack on the beach in the Seward Peninsula village of Teller on Sept. 2, 2021. Salmon is a dietary staple for Indigenous residents of Western Alaska, and poor runs have created hardship. (Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)
Bill would change the makeup of the Alaska Board of Fisheries

Would require commercial, sport and subsistence members, along with one representing scientists.

Sara Kveum speaks to the crowd rallying in front of the Alaska State Capitol, alongside Nikki Bass, both members of the Key Coalition of Alaska advocating for disability rights on March 19, 2025 (Corinne Smith/Alaska Beacon)
‘We are done waiting!’ Advocates and supporters of Alaskans with disabilities rally at the Capitol

Participants focus on Medicaid, eliminating waitlists for support services, infant learning programs.

John Boyle, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (center left), sits with staff in the gallery of the Alaska House of Representatives as lawmakers debate the creation of a separate Alaska Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. Speaking is Rep. George Rauscher, R-Sutton. (James Brooks/Alaska Beacon)
Alaska Legislature halts Dunleavy effort to create agriculture department

Legislators cancel executive order but say a bill to create the department is possible later this year.

Most Read