VIDALIA — Quentin Morris, an educator for the Louisiana Fur Advisory Council, will be at Vidalia and Ferriday libraries Tuesday to discuss the benefits of animal trapping in Louisiana.

The Fur Advisory Council is a division of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The council’s main goals are to stabilize and enhance Louisiana’s fur and alligator markets and to educate the public on the role of trapping in wildlife conservation. Morris will focus on the second goal in his programs, he said.

“The main theme is trapping (in the program),” he said. “(We are) trying to revitalize trapping around Louisiana, and teach that it is a very viable way of managing wildlife. It’s not cruel, and it can be very rewarding.”

Morris said the programs, scheduled for 10:15 a.m. at Vidalia Library and 2 p.m. at Ferriday Library, will feature information, as well as some hands-on learning.

He said he will be bringing a small alligator, several real animal pelts, animal skulls and trapping lures. He will also explain the state of animal trapping today and why trapping is important.

Morris said the program is not catered to any specific age group, and he tailors his presentation based on the ages of the audience.

One of the primary goals of the program is to encourage new trappers.

“(Trapping) is a dying art and we want to get it alive (again),” Morris said. “It’s along the lines of glass blowing.”

“(We) want trapping to be revitalized. It’s a very important endeavor to control animals. It can reconnect you with nature, and it instills a lot of values like doing things well, humanely and ethically.”

Another goal of the program is to try to get rid of the stigma that goes along with animal trapping, Morris said.

“Hopefully, people will get past a lot of the hang-ups about using and killing animals. A lot of people have a knee-jerk reaction to trapping. (I want to try) to make people aware that animals and people are not the same, they think different (than people) and there is no problem using them (if it is) done humanely.”

Morris said one of the biggest reasons for animal control through trapping is to protect the species from overpopulation and destroying their own food sources.

Morris said that animal trapping is closely regulated by the LDWF. Conservation officers are in charge of monitoring trapping, and trappers must obtain a license to trap.

A Louisiana trapping license cost $25 for residents over the age of 15.

Morris said this is his fifth year working with the Fur Advisory Council, and he does as many of these programs as he can in venues such as schools, library events and conferences.

He said he has done some trapping himself and enjoys it, but his busy schedule does not allow him to trap as much as he would like.

Morris, who has a master’s in science education, said he enjoys teaching trapping to the public, especially children.

“I like animals and nature, and like to encourage people to get out into nature,” he said. “I also really like to see perspectives change, and seeing the hang-ups and aversions break down.”

“I enjoy when kids thank me for coming because they learned something valuable, and it’s one of those remember forever experiences that kids have when they are 10 (or so).”

The Fur Advisory Council website, http://www.alligatorfur.com/fur/fur.htm, provides information on trapping rules and regulations.