More humane than snares

On an agricultural road in Pingxi, New Taipei City, rangers search the grass verge with metal detectors. They are mainly looking for wild boar traps and snares. Farmers use these devices to prevent their painstakingly grown crops from being damaged by animals, but they often accidentally trap small animals, such as dogs. If such animals aren’t found in time, they may die.

The question is how to strike a balance between caring for animals and protecting crops. In fact, there are more humane ways to protect crops than setting animal traps. By erecting fences around vegetable gardens, we can prevent animals from entering, protect crops, and keep animals away from harm. Replacing traps with fences is a small thing to change that can make a huge difference, ensuring animals, be they pets or wild, can roam freely in safety.

以下為中文對照

捕獸鋏之外 其實可以更友善

在新北市平溪的產業道路上，巡守員正拿著金屬探測器沿路在草叢中探測，他們主要是要找出藏在草叢中的捕獸鋏及山豬吊等器具。這些器具主要是農民為了不讓辛勤耕種的農作物遭受動物的破壞，但因此也常常讓一些小動物，例如犬隻等誤觸而夾斷腿，若無人及時發現嚴重時也可能身亡。

那麼如何在愛護動物及保護農作物之間取得平衡呢？其實捕獸鋏之外可以更友善，在菜園外架設圍籬，使動物不容易入侵，不但保護了農作物也間接讓動物不受傷害。以圍籬取代陷阱 或許這只是一個小小的改變 但對於住在該地區的動物們而言 卻也是能讓牠們安全走跳的一個方法。

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