A leghold trap set on the property of Copper Ridge Place has a neighbourhood mom concerned.

When Naomi Blindheim's 12-year-old son Matthew told her Thursday night about the trap he'd come across attached to a storage shed belonging to the Yukon government's extended care facility, she was bothered.

Having grown up trapping in the Mayo area, Blindheim is fully aware of what traps look like. So she asked he son to describe it, and then go back and take a picture of it.

When he returned home, sure enough, there was a photo of what Blindheim recognized to be a #2 leghold trap, fixed to the steps leading into one three storage sheds on the property.

Blindheim walked through the greenbelt over to the shed to see for herself, and there it was.

When Matthew and his friend stopped at the storage shed a couple of nights ago while biking through the area, as they always do, Matthew sat down on the steps, but didn't notice the rusty trap at first.

Only when he looked down between his legs did he see it, fully cocked and ready to spring, Blindheim said.

She said he didn't know what it was, but his chum did.

"Matthew was concerned he was going to get his leg caught because he sat right over the trap,” Blindheim said. "He almost put his foot in it.

"So they threw sticks and rocks at it until they set if off,” she said.

It happened a couple of nights ago but Matthew only told her about it last night.

"You know how kids are.”

Blindheim contacted Environment Yukon's TIP Line immediately after returning home from the storage shed. She was subsequently contacted last night by conservation officer David Bakica.

Bakica was out of the office on another call this morning and was unavailable for comment. The matter of the trap is under investigation, Environment spokesman Dennis Senger confirmed this morning.

Spokeswoman Pat Living of the Department of Health and Social Services said staff at Copper Ridge Place checked the entire area this morning and found nothing.

"And they did not set anything,” Living insisted. "They did not set any traps, of any type.”

Blindheim pointed out the trap chain was secured by a screw to the storage shed steps, so somebody had set the trap intentionally.

Whether it was to catch a gopher, or maybe a squirrel, is anybody's guess, she said.

She noted, however, it was set in an area that is smack in the middle of the neighboorhood greenbelt used by all kinds of residents: kids out biking; those out walking their pets; pets out walking by themselves; and parents out strolling with the kids, young and old.

There is no fence in the area separating the Copper Ridge Place property from the greenbelt used by many, she said.

On her way home last night from the storage shed, she pointed out, she passed four people out walking their dogs, off the leash.

It would be nothing for a curious dog to prance over to the shed, maybe even chase a gopher there, and step in trap.

Maybe a cat out on the prowl, Blindheim said.

Knowing what she knows of #2 leghold traps, she suspects if Matthew had stuck his foot in there, he'd have a pretty good owie, but probably nothing serious.

But a small child out walking with their parents could be seriously injured if he or she happened to wander by and step in it and stick their hand in it, while curiously checking out the shed while Mom or Dad watched on, Blindheim said.

The large greenbelt behind Copper Ridge Place, she emphasized, is a very busy place, and it's not unusual for area residents to stroll by the storage shed.

By Chuck Tobin

Star Reporter