Call to ban 'horrendous' item after sombre discovery in bush: 'Death trap'

Dave Dudley, a well-known community figure in Townsville, is urging authorities to ban bait traps, often called funnel traps, after a grim discovery in local bushland. While cleaning up rubbish along a dry creek, Dave found a dead native rakali trapped inside one of these devices. The rakali, which is akin to a native otter rather than a rodent, likely entered the trap chasing food like yabbies or crabs, only to find itself unable to escape and ultimately drown. Dave described the animal’s death as horrific and expressed his strong concerns about the broader impact these traps have on native wildlife. Bait traps are commonly used by fishermen to catch yabbies and other small marine creatures. They’re designed to be easy for animals to enter but nearly impossible to exit. Unfortunately, this design doesn’t discriminate, ensnaring a variety of unintended species and causing prolonged suffering. Dave pointed out that these traps are often left unattended for days, which means trapped animals endure long, slow deaths. The traps are made from wire frames and plastic netting, materials that don’t biodegrade, allowing these "set and forget" devices to continue killing long after being abandoned. Dave's work cleaning up illegal dumping in Townsville highlights a bigger environmental problem. Rubbish and discarded items, including these bait traps, are becoming increasingly common in the area’s waterways and bushland. He believes that banning such traps without escape hatches is necessary to protect native animals from unnecessary cruelty. Wildlife experts are echoing Dave's concerns. Tamille Brunt from the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland suggests retailers should rethink the design of these traps. Specifically, she recommends reducing the entrance hole size to around 4 to 4.5 centimeters. This change would help prevent larger wildlife, like rakali and other animals, from getting stuck inside while still allowing fishermen to catch yabbies. Tamille stressed that the goal isn’t to stop yabbing altogether but to encourage the use of more wildlife-friendly equipment. The problem with current bait traps is their indiscriminate nature and the fact that many users leave them out for extended periods without checking, which leads to needless suffering. With these devices continuing to kill animals long after being abandoned, the call for regulation or an outright ban is gaining traction. Dave and others hope that authorities will listen and take action to eliminate these "death traps" from the environment, protecting native species and promoting more responsible fishing practices. The conversation around bait traps reflects a larger issue of balancing human recreational activities with wildlife conservation. While fishing for yabbies is a popular pastime, it shouldn’t come at the cost of native animal lives. Dave’s discovery serves as a sobering reminder of the unintended consequences of common fishing gear, urging a rethink to safeguard vulnerable wildlife populations.