Mike Sievering Speaks on Predator Control at Brent Centreville Library
By Sheila Duncan
Reporter
Roger Brothers with Treasure Forest of Bibb County held an event at the Brent Centreville Library on Thursday, October 24th, from 7-8 PM. Mike Sievering was the guest speaker. Mike Sievering, is a retired professional wildlife biologist, spoke at the Brent Centreville Library on Thursday, October 24th, from 7-8 PM. Sievering, who now runs the State Conservation Department’s Trapping Education Program, is well-known for his hands-on workshops that promote responsible wildlife management through trapping. He conducts around a dozen two-day workshops throughout the state each year, including one in Bibb County which will be held January 4th and 5th, 2025. The trapper education workshops are an outreach program designed to teach participants an essential outdoor skill that played a key role in the nation’s early settlement and continues to serve as an effective wildlife management tool today. These workshops provide a rich blend of historical trapping practices, biological insights into furbearers, and guidance on furbearer management. Participants will also learn proper trapping techniques, highlighting the importance of trapping in sustainable wildlife management. Workshops are open to both youth and adults (ages 7 and up), offering a hands-on learning experience for all.
Having been involved in trapping since his youth, Sievering has a wealth of experience, including having financed his college education through his work on the trap line. His lifelong passion for wildlife management has led him to be an active member of both the State and National Trappers Associations. Alongside his wife, Mrs. Viki, he travels the country, promoting the benefits of ethical trapping practices for managing wildlife populations.
The event, which drew a crowd of around 25 attendees, featured Sievering sharing stories from his extensive trapping career, while also focusing on the crucial topic of predator control for landowners. He also showcased various types of traps designed for specific animals, such as foxes, coyotes, and beavers, and demonstrated how to bait and set them up. As promised it was an insightful evening for everyone who attended and interested in conservation and effective wildlife management.
The trapping event provided a unique opportunity for attendees to learn more about the role of predator control in maintaining healthy ecosystems and preserving local wildlife.
