Tips for Industry & Trappers

• Contact your insurance agent and insure your equipment (i.e. generator, cabin and contents, etc). If possible, take all necessary action to prevent thefts. Common sense should prevail, and valuable equipment must be secured and marked.

  
  

• Contact Alberta Public Lands and Forests Division and discuss a miscellaneous lease(s) for your cabin(s). It is also very important to ensure cabins are built in accordance with the government cabin policy.

  
  

• Advise the Fish and Wildlife Division and Public Lands and Forests Division of all cabin locations and provide them with photographs of the cabin and your trapping equipment. Keep invoices, as proof of purchase is often required when theft takes place or vandalism problems are encountered.

  
  

• Report at once any thefts or vandalism to the RCMP. Their role is to conduct an investigation and report their findings to the Fish and Wildlife Division.

  
  

• All claims must be prepared on the ATCB claim form by a Fish and Wildlife Officer. They will investigate further if required, and provide the required documentation (i.e. fur harvest records, claim details, etc.) to the Alberta Trappers’ Compensation Board.

  
  

• All companies planning activities that include resource extraction or exploration must notify the RFMA holder at least 10 days in advance of the work. This does not, in many cases, provide you much time to adjust your operation. To prevent conflict it is recommended that Industry fieldsmen personally contact the trapper prior to work commencing.

  
  

• When notice is received, provide concerns in writing to the company. They will avoid disrupting your operation if possible, or negotiate compensation.

  
  

• Companies are responsible for damage to trapper assets and temporary disruptions. Trappers must provide companies with invoices that reflect reasonable compensation for damage to assets and temporary disruptions, resulting in lost fur harvest and inconvenience.

  
  

• Photographs are very important: Carry a camera with you and photograph trail and/or trap set damage and any other damage to your trapping area.

  
  

• It is very important to work closely with companies working on your trapping area. The companies will cooperate, and working together gets good results, reducing expensive conflict and hard feelings.

  
  

• When conflicts occur and can’t be resolved provide all details to the Fish and Wildlife Office and have a claim prepared. The claim will then be forwarded for review to the ATCB. If the Board finds the company responsible, they will advise them to settle the claim with the trapper.

  
  

• Due to extensive forest harvests and oil and gas activity (seismic/drilling, etc.) long-term loss of income claims are being reviewed by the Board. They require a very comprehensive review, and trappers need to provide a great deal of information (i.e. maps, photographs, fur harvest records, etc.). Consult with your Fish and Wildlife Officer, who will prepare the claim on your behalf.

  
  

• For you information, the Alberta Trappers’ Compensation Program is funded annually from which claim payments are made and a portion used by the ATA for administration costs. The Stakeholders contributions are as follows:

  
  

  Oil Industry Forest Industry Alberta Trappers' Association Government of Alberta ATCO Electric TOTAL

  $33,500.00 15,000.00 8,000.00 7,500.00 3,000.00 $67,000.00