DENVER – A Colorado wildlife group filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court Tuesday challenging a July decision by the Colorado Wildlife Commission to allow mink and marten to be captured with box traps for their fur.
The suit filed by Sinapu, a nonprofit wildlife group based in Boulder, alleges the trapping regulation violates the state constitution, which bans recreational and commercial trapping. It asks the court to rule the practice unconstitutional and illegal.
The commission on July 13 allowed the trapping of mink and marten after the Colorado Trappers Association asked for permission to kill 10 animal species currently off-limits.
The commission approved only the two, against the advice of the Division of Wildlife.
Commissioners added the seasons for mink and marten, saying they didn’t think hunting the animals would cause serious population declines.
The suit says there isn’t scientific support for the box-trapping regulation.
