Tragic Death of Beloved Pet Sparks Outrage and Calls for Trapping Reform
A couple from Radium Hot Springs in British Columbia's East Kootenay region is grappling with profound grief after their young Siberian husky was caught and killed in a legal trap set on Crown land. The incident has ignited a campaign for better regulation of the trapping industry across the province.
Fatal Encounter on a Forest Service Road
On January 8, 2026, Sean Boxall took his two-year-old rescue dog, Moon, for what was supposed to be a routine skiing outing. They drove west along the plowed Horsethief Creek forest service road toward Gopher Creek. Moon, a Siberian husky originally from California, exited the vehicle and began exploring the area while Boxall assessed the ski terrain.
As Boxall returned to his truck, he noticed a partially obscured trapline sign hidden by overhanging branches. Moments later, he saw Moon climbing the bank beside the road. Despite his immediate calls and attempts to intervene, it was too late. Moon triggered a freshly baited body-gripping trap just metres from the plowed mainline road and Boxall's vehicle.
Desperate Struggle to Save a Beloved Companion
The trap did not kill Moon instantly. Instead, it crushed the dog's throat, leaving him frantically trying to free himself in a crouched position of terror. Boxall described the harrowing scene as he desperately tried to pry the trap apart with his bare hands.
"I clutched and grabbed the trap, trying with all my life to pry it apart while looking for any release mechanism that could free him," Boxall recalled. "At one point, he bit my hand, looking at me and pleading for relief. Panic mode had set in, and I furiously continued to try to pry the trap apart until my hands were torn and my blood flowed out all over me, Moon, and into the snow."
Boxall eventually ran back to his truck and retrieved a chainsaw, which he used to free Moon. By that time, the dog had already succumbed to his injuries.
Legal Traps and Regulatory Gaps
Body-gripping traps are spring-loaded devices with bait placed under a trigger that activates a steel jaw. They are readily available for purchase online and are considered legal on government-sanctioned traplines in British Columbia. Boxall emphasized the disturbing reality that Moon suffered an atrocious and agonizing death on Crown land in what is considered a legal trap.
Nicole Trigg, Boxall's partner, expressed shock at the regulatory environment that allowed this tragedy to occur. "How all this happened is beyond me," Trigg said. "To lay traps across our nation's Crown lands indiscriminately decimating wildlife in this cruel, inhumane way while also killing people's beloved pets in the process, is absolutely dumbfounding."
Trigg highlighted that there are currently no restrictions on how close traps can be set to public roads and no standardized requirements for warning signage, leaving both wildlife and domestic animals vulnerable.
Campaign for Change and Industry Regulation
In response to Moon's death, Trigg has launched a campaign in partnership with The Fur-Bearers, a Burnaby-based animal rights organization. Their goal is to advocate for comprehensive reforms to better regulate the trapping industry in British Columbia.
The campaign aims to address several critical issues:
- Establishing minimum distance requirements between traps and public roads or recreational areas
- Implementing clear and visible warning signage standards for traplines
- Reviewing the legality and humaneness of body-gripping traps on Crown land
- Creating better public awareness about trapping activities in recreational areas
This tragic incident has raised important questions about the balance between traditional trapping practices and public safety in British Columbia's wilderness areas. As the campaign gains momentum, it highlights the need for updated regulations that protect both wildlife and the pets of residents who enjoy Canada's Crown lands.
