The sawdust princess has ascended to a higher power.
VernonB次元官网网址檚 Holly Wise has become the first woman certified as a B.C. Trappers Association (BCTA) trapping instructor. The BCTA is CanadaB次元官网网址檚 oldest trapping organization, established in 1945.
An Interior Health clinical operations manager by day, Wise went through a mentorship program of the BCTA, going around the province and working with excellent instructors. She learned from them, took their tips and tricks and honed her skills, making herself, she said, a better instructor based on the expertise already out there.
Wise came about her love of trapping naturally. She is the daughter of local North Okanagan wildlife business personality Pete Wise.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been a trapper my entire life,B次元官网网址� said Wise. B次元官网网址淚 started off as the sawdust princess, helping my dad with the processing of hides after he had done all his trapping when I was knee-high to a grasshopper.
B次元官网网址淢y dad is proud as heck for me. HeB次元官网网址檚 been a huge influence on me, a real driving force.B次元官网网址�
She got her trapping licence in 1994 and started working for her dad. She purchased her own trapline in 2005.
B次元官网网址淔or 26 years, IB次元官网网址檝e been a trapper so becoming a certified instructor was a natural progression for me,B次元官网网址� said Wise. B次元官网网址淚 love sharing the craft and the education that goes with it.B次元官网网址�
She also loves being a woman in a male-dominated industry.
Wise is currently the vice-president-elect of the BCTA (she lost the 2023 election for presidency by a mere 37 votes), as well as its communications chair. SheB次元官网网址檚 been on the BCTA board for five years.
To now have the opportunity to provide mentorship to up-and-coming women trappers, is, said Wise, B次元官网网址渆xtremely empowering.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淭he men can go sit down now,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about getting women involved. The industry is so male-dominated but we are starting to see women coming out of the woodwork, and itB次元官网网址檚 amazing. We (BCTA) lend our arm out to the B.C. Wildlife Federation and I go in and teach trapping seminars for women at their courses. This is a phenomenal opportunity to move forward in this industry.B次元官网网址�
And it isnB次元官网网址檛 to say that the men donB次元官网网址檛 appreciate having Wise on the board. On the contrary.
Some men, said Wise, are always going to be set in their ways. They donB次元官网网址檛 talk to her or with her, but talk around her. Others have told her what she is doing is absolutely amazing.
B次元官网网址淚 get told B次元官网网址榶ou are inspirational for other women, that my wife or sister wants to get into trapping,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� said Wise. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not solely about the opportunity the BCTA has brought to me (certification), itB次元官网网址檚 so much more than that.B次元官网网址�
Wise is a big believer of managing the ecosystem and wildlife as a whole as a trapper.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e looking at what is our overall carrying capacity of our area that weB次元官网网址檙e trapping on, what could that look like,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲e ensure weB次元官网网址檙e not over-harvesting and reducing (wildlife) numbers to a point it becomes detrimental to the area. WeB次元官网网址檙e always being mindful to really make sure when weB次元官网网址檙e out trapping, weB次元官网网址檙e really just what helping what would be that natural selection over the harder months.B次元官网网址�
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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