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Police issue warning after illegal snare traps found in Mississauga

Peel police have issued a warning after several illegal animal traps were found near Hewick Meadows Park in Mississauga.

Snares made of thin wire could pose danger to humans, animals

The 11 animal traps are spring snares made of thin wire 'that are difficult to see,' Peel Police warned on Monday. (Peel Regional Police)

Peel police have issued a warning after several illegal animal traps were found near Hewick Meadows Park in Mississauga.

The eleven traps made of spring snares and thin wire were found near the corner of Highway 403 and Mississauga Road between Mar. 27 and Mar. 30.

"The wire snares are illegal to set, and pose a danger to both children and adults, as well as domestic animals and wildlife," a release sent out Monday by Peel Regional Police reads.

So far nobody has been injured, but Mississauga Animal Services told CBC Toronto they found an injured coyote in the park on Wednesday along with a snare trap. Two days later an area resident found a dead coyote. In an email, the group said they have been conducting "proactive patrols and routine inspections" in the park since the discoveries.

'I have not seen a case like this before'

Peel police have also sent out officers to comb the area, Const. Harinder Sohi said. 

"I myself have been with Peel Regional Police for close to 15 years and I have not seen a case like this before, so this is something new for us," Sohi told CBC Toronto on Monday.

Bill Grubic has lived in the area for over 30 years. He says his wife and daughter go walking in the park near where the wire snare traps were found. (Darek Zdienicki/CBC)

Bill Grubic has lived in the area for more than 30 years, and his wife and daughter go for walks in the park often.

"I think it's terrible because there's a lot of kids and a lot of people walking here, you don't want anybody to get their foot caught on something like that," Grubic said. 

Anyone with information about the traps is being asked to contact police.

With files from Taylor Simmons