Santa Barbara County Municipal Code § 7-42 Exception to prohibition

The board of supervisors finds and declares that the use of steel-jawed leg-hold traps creates a hazard to the residents of Santa Barbara County and their pets.

It is necessary to regulate the use of steel-jawed leg-hold traps on certain public lands in the county to ensure the safety and welfare of persons and pets using said lands for recreational purposes.

The impact on trapping in Santa Barbara County is minimal compared to the local safety and welfare concerns of the county's citizenry.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)

Except as provided in section 7-42, it shall be unlawful for any person to set, trigger, activate or otherwise use or cause to be set, triggered, or activated, any steel-jawed leg-hold traps for the capture of any animals in any of the following areas:

(a) Within all public lands in the Los Padres National Forest which are located within the boundaries delineated on the map marked Exhibit A attached to the ordinance codified in this article and described as follows:

The eastern boundary begins at the Taro Canyon Road proceeding north to the end of the road and continuing due north to Divide Peak Road, continuing northwest to the junction of Camuesa Road.

The boundary line then proceeds east along Camuesa Road to Juncal Campground.

The northern boundary line begins at Juncal Campground and Camuesa Road (5N15) and proceeds northwest along Camuesa Road to the Big Caliente Hot Springs Road (5N16). The boundary proceeds north on Big Caliente Hot Springs Road to Big Caliente Hot Springs.

Forest Management boundary 63(a) is then followed west from Big Caliente Hot Springs to Little Caliente Hot Springs. The road from Little Caliente Springs is followed to the junction of Mono Creek Channel. Mono Creek Channel proceeds southward to confluence with the Santa Ynez River.

The boundary continues west along the Santa Ynez River Channel to the Red Rock day use parking area.

The boundary then continues along the road from Red Rock to the Upper Oso Road, proceeding north on Upper Oso Road to the junction of the Santa Cruz Trail (27W09). It continues due west to the forest boundary.

The western boundary of the regulated area is due north and south from the Winchester Gun Club.

(b) The firearms closure area within the Figueroa Mountain Recreation area as depicted on the Los Padres Forest Service recreation map.

(c) Within five hundred yards from the boundaries of the following high use developed campgrounds and day use areas:

Juncal Campground

Upper Oso Campground

Lower Oso Campground

Davy Brown Campground

Nira Campground

Cachuma Campground

Big Caliente Hot Springs

Little Caliente Hot Springs

(d) On all public lands in the unincorporated area of the county south of the southernmost boundary of the Los Padres National Forest.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)

Notwithstanding section 7-41, it shall be lawful to utilize a steel-jawed leg-hold trap in any regulated areas when:

(a) Such traps are utilized for predator control programs by federal trappers.

(b) Such traps are used by grazing permittees where active grazing allotments have been authorized.

(c) Such traps are utilized for the control of disease outbreaks as authorized by State Fish and Game Code 4011.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)

Any person who violates the provisions of this article is guilty of an infraction, which shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars for the first violation; not to exceed two hundred dollars for a second violation within one year; and not to exceed five hundred dollars for each additional violation of the same ordinance within one year. Further, when complaints are received, the animal control officers of the county shall have the duty to investigate and enforce the provisions of this article. The provisions of this article may also be enforced by any peace officer having the jurisdictional authority to do so.

(Ord. No. 4948, 11-17-2015)