Coyote trapping attempt leads to charges for Langley man

Langley resident George Busatta is facing nine charges under the Wildlife Act after allegedly trying to trap coyotes near his neighbour's rural home without permission or proper training last May.

Conservation officer Dave Cox says neighbours alerted the wildlife service about the trapping efforts before any animals were actually trapped.

"No animals were injured. Obviously there are serious public safety issues, which is one of the main issues here when you're trapping outside of your property and you're trapping near other people's dwellings. So there were public safety issues that obviously make this file fairly serious."

Cox says the unusual case is a reminder to check out the rules around nuisance animals that may be bothering you. While you can trap and humanely destroy raccoons or skunks, you need a permit to kill bigger animals, such as coyotes or cougars.

He says coyotes fall under a different designation under the Wildlife Act. They are a fur bearing animal and they are considered a more dangerous game animal.

"If someone's having a conflict with coyotes on their property in an agricultural or rural setting, as a home or property owner they can go get a trapping license themselves, which gets them educated how to do these types of activities ethically, safely and teaches them how to use humane trapping practices."

Busatta is facing nine counts under the Wildlife Act includingtrapping without a license, hunting out of season, setting a trap without written permission from the owner of the land, and trapping within 200 meters of a residence.

Cox says charges like this are rare outside rural areas.

Google Map: Langley, B.C.