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Anger over bobcat video causes meeting tension
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Jim Miller/ Las Vegas Review-Journal
Audience members at the Clark County Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife's Tuesday meeting display signs stating that the board does not speak for them. They were at the Clark County Government Center to protest the performance of board member Tracy Truman, who shot and posted online a video of his dog barking and lunging at a bobcat snagged in a leg trap. » Buy this photo
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Eight armed Nevada Department of Wildlife officers escorted members of the county Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife into the government center Tuesday night.
They monitored the group's meeting in the County Commission chambers, and they kept a watchful eye on vehicles in the parking lot.
It was out of the ordinary for the seven-member board filled with sportsmen, farmers and ranchers -- appointed by the County Commission -- that advises the Nevada Wildlife Commission on wildlife matters.
The strong police presence was a safety precaution after Tracy Truman, the board's vice chairman and a 40-year trapper, shot and posted online a video of his dog barking and lunging at a bobcat snagged in a leg trap. Truman, who said last month that the video was an educational tool meant to show other trappers that a dog doesn't have to make contact with a trapped animal, did not attend the meeting.
Paul Dixon, the county board chairman, said Truman was absent because he was advised by law enforcement to skip the meeting after receiving death threats.
More than 40 people attended the meeting. A handful spoke about Truman's character, calling him "a great guy." Dozens called the video "horrific" and said they want Truman off the board. Protesters of the video denounced any threats made against Truman. At one point, a Truman supporter and a protester briefly clashed in the audience, and Dixon warned them to settle their issues in the hallway. Some took issue with Truman calling the video an educational tool, because there was no disclaimer with the video.
Karen Layne, local Humane Society president, characterized the video as "harassment of wildlife."
Public reaction to the video has Las Vegas police investigating whether Truman is the victim of a stalker after he filed a police report Jan. 23. According to the report, an unidentified male has called Truman's law office more than once regarding the bobcat video, said officer Jay Rivera, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department.
The police report does not mention any threats to Truman's life, Rivera added.
The state wildlife department also is looking further into Truman's bobcat video, an agency spokesman confirmed. The results of that investigation will be forwarded to the district attorney's office.
Local animal rights activists reposted the video, without Truman's permission, and are calling on the County Commission to remove him from the board. The video has since been removed from YouTube after Truman complained of copyright infringement.
The video, shot in December in the Spring Mountains, shows a bobcat trapped by one leg. Truman's hand appears in the video holding part of a chain attached to the trap while his dog barks at the bobcat, which takes a few swipes at the dog. Truman is heard encouraging the dog and saying, "Get him, boy!" as he pulls on the chain. The animals never make contact with each other in the minute-long video.
County Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani has called the video "disgusting" and said the commission will discuss the video and Truman's appointment at a Feb. 21 meeting.
Truman, who has met privately with individual commissioners, refused to step down, even after Commissioner Steve Sisolak asked him to do so.
"The video is disturbing," Sisolak said. "I think the animal is being tortured and used to taunt the dog. I didn't see any purpose in it. I'm not buying it was a training video."
Sisolak said he will not support Truman for reappointment when his three-year term is up in 2014.
Before Tuesday's meeting, wildlife law enforcement "did a threat assessment," Dixon said.
Threats were made by phone calls, emails and letters to harm board members' vehicles, he added.
According to the Nevada Trappers Association, which Truman serves as vice president, bobcat trapping is a lucrative business that has been in Nevada since the late 1820s. Individual pelts sell from $443 to $1,111, according to statistics from last year's annual fur sale in Fallon.
Contact reporter Kristi Jourdan at kjourdan@reviewjournal.com or 702-455-4519.
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It is time to outlaw the cruel and inhumane jaw traps which cause extrere pain for animals so caught. The county should outlaw the use of those traps. The days of the old west fur trappers are over. Perhaps if a trapper placed his hand in the trap and let it smap then he would know the pain it causes.
As a longtime trapper, I have never known any trapper to commit an unethical, unsporting act as it seems Mr. Truman perpetrated. His apparent behavior is as dispicable as cock-fighting and dog-fighting. Lacking any evidence in his defense, He should immediately apologize for what may have been an accute lapse of judgement. He should make a public statement that such behavior is contrary to the missons, policies, and values of both the Nevada Wildlife Commission and its county advisory boards and of the Nevada Trappers Association. He should immediately resign from both organizations before he does more irreparable harm to their worthy reputations.
Garry, you feel passionately about abused kids then do something to help them but don't disrespect the people that find compasion and beauty in animals. Also, if after watching the bobcat video you (or anyone else) feels no outrage over it, I suggest you reevaluate your moral compass (maybe we don't want Garry helping kids)......
Wow Garry....you have some anger management issues you should deal with. People don't have a right anymore to voice their opinions? You have a problem with people who love their pets? The problem is not with these people, the problem is with people like you that have no tolerance for the rights and lives of other law abiding citizens. Maybe you're the one that needs to "get a life".
I was pointing out the double standard and the unethical behavior rampant in the management of wildlife. I think what Truman did, while LEGAL was unethical. Should he be sanctioned for that...probably not, but he will probably be "thrown to the wolves" to prevent any light being cast upon the more insidious problems at NDOW, the corruption of cover ups and political favors that are rampant. Why is NDOW "investigating" if there are no allegations of unlawful conduct? B/C they want to "lay blame" with someone else over this controversy.
Dw did Truman do any of the things you are talking about or break a single law... NO... This is about anti's making a big deal to try and impose their flawed viewpoints on others and a commissioner tring to take political advantage. The politically coronet hypocrites are out in force today...
not vegan or "anti"...just think the fish cops are run in a corrupt manner. Ranger shoots 2 bighorn sheep and gets a small ticket...if I do it they charge me with a felony and take all my stuff. They covered it up.
Or if you know a commissioner, you can poach an antelope with no consequences b/c he can call their "Chief" and get his help to cove it up.
I'm sure all the anti's posting are vegan...
Gee, I wish all the idiots with signs and all the do gooders posting here were as worried about the torture done to human beings as you are a predator animal. If you dont like it, dont watch the video. If there is nothing illegal done then you all need to get a life and start volunteering to work with abused kids or something worthwhile. Oh but I forget, you are the same geniuses who tell us that your freking animal is your kid! GET A LIFE!
Hey biff, Just threatening Truman is nothing like what he did to that bobcat. He deserves some mental anguish for what he did. No one did any harm to him, did they? And nobody will. If someone did, then they are no better than he is, so don't harm him. But he does deserve some mental pain to learn his lesson.