ELKO, Nev. (AP) — A Nevada commercial trapper has been slapped with a $5,000 civil penalty and $1,065 in court fines and fees for trapping violations that game wardens said caused collateral damage to wildlife.
Trevor Walch of Elko was sentenced June 4 in Elko Justice Court after pleading guilty to one count of illegally trapping near exposed bait and two counts of failing to visit traps within the required four-day time limit.
Nevada Department of Wildlife officials say because the 29-year-old Walch failed to check the traps on time, a mule deer fawn, an elk calf and three coyotes apparently died in traps.
Game wardens observed the dead deer and one of the dead coyotes in two separate traps for a period of at least 13 days.
The conviction stemmed from a multi-month investigation in Lander and Elko counties.