Rap on traps- Nigel from Nigel’s Animal Rescue with the possum that was found in an illegal steel jaw trap last week. 51034Picture: Donna Oates

By Bridget Cook
A CRANBOURNE man is urging residents to hand in illegal steel jaw traps to the Cranbourne police after a possum was found in one in a dire state last week.
Barrie Tapp, from Animal Cruelty Hotline, said he received a call from a local resident on Thursday 29 July informing him that possum was stuck in a trap on a public pathway near the Warneet Foreshore.
Mr Tapp said the brushed-tail possum was in a “bad way”.
“It is now recovering at Nigel’s Animal Rescue in Devon Meadows,” he said.
Mr Tapp said that he wanted people to be aware that these traps are illegal.
“They are a very lethal weapon,” he said.
“What concerns me most was that this trap was set in a public place … it’s just ludicrous.
“I’m not only worried about the animals, but also children who use that track everyday.
“This trap was intentionally set for a possum as it was under a tree and possum are a protected species.”
Mr Tapp said people could hand weapons in to Cranbourne police station, no questions asked, to help get these traps off the streets.
“This is not just a little animal cruelty complaint, we are taking this very seriously,” he said.
Anyone with information about the incident can contact Sergeant Gavin Buchan at Cranbourne police station on 5991 0600.
Anyone with an animal cruelty complaint can contact Mr Tapp on the Animal Cruelty Hotline, 1800 751 770.