| Summary: | A random sample of 1,200 purchasers of the Illinois resident trapping license (2009-2010 series) were mailed a 5-page questionnaire between March and May 2010. We received 787 usable responses (67% response rate). Trapping license sales decreased by 10% from 2008-2009 (4,146 licenses) to 2009-2010 (3,751 license). Trappers set an average of 20.1 traps for an average of 25.5 days/nights during the 2009-2010 season, and they harvested an estimated 117,597 furbearers (24% decrease from 155,496 furbearers harvested in 2008-2009). An estimated 52,431 raccoon (Procyon lotor) were taken by trappers in 2009-2010, more than any other furbearer species. Estimated harvest of other species included 31,942 common muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus), 1,792 American mink (Neovison vison), 14,203 Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), 1,001 red fox (Vulpes vulpes), 71 gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), 7,697 American beaver (Castor canadensis), 3,784 striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis), 29 least/long-tailed weasel (Mustela nivalis/M. frenata), 4,585 coyote (Canis latrans), and 62 American badger (Taxidea taxus). A majority (90%) of respondents reported using body-gripping traps (e.g. Conibear™) during the 2009-2010 season. Sightings of North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) and bobcat (Lynx rufus) by trappers, and harvest of furbearers by hunting trappers, were also documented. Illinois Natural History Survey unpublished not peer reviewed Open
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