Why We Care | Cruel Animal Trappings (2024)

FAQs

Why We Care | Cruel Animal Trappings? ›

​Trapping is a cruel and dangerous activity threatening native wildlife, humans, and companion animals. Traps are indiscriminate, which means nearly any animal whose feet touch the ground can trigger them—whether it's an endangered species like the Mexican wolf, a bald eagle, or a family dog.

Additionally, the Fish and Wildlife Service, use trapping as a cost-effective method (compared to hunting or chemical control) to manage wildlife. Trapping helps protect endangered species and migratory birds, restore species in decline, prevent and reduce property damage, and control destructive invasive species.

Trapping represents a critical tool for resolving human-furbearer conflicts, such as flooding by beavers and livestock predation by coyotes and foxes.

Not only are traps cruel, they are also completely indiscriminate. Every year, dogs, cats, birds, and other animals—including endangered species—are “accidentally” crippled or killed by traps placed in public areas across the country.

Animals may be trapped for a variety of purposes, including food, the fur trade, hunting, pest control, and wildlife management.

Trapping provides recreation, food, clothing, and supplemental income. Trapping allows many people to participate in cultural traditions. Live trapping is used to move species from areas where they are plentiful to areas where they are scarce. Live trapping helps biologists study many species of wildlife.

Military explorers and settlers alike hired retired trappers and traders to guide them to their Western destinations. One of the major achievements of the fur trade was the conversion of the trapper's geographic knowledge, much of which was learned from various American Indian tribes, onto maps.

Both the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association have declared the steel-jaw leghold trap to be inhumane. In September 2019, California became the first state in the US to ban trapping for commercial and recreational purpose.

Millions of wild animals are captured each year as part of damage and disease control programs, population regulation activities, wildlife management efforts, and research studies.

Lines connecting multiple traps increase the overall footprint and cause additional damage. Lost traps and debris can cause damage to coral, submerged aquatic vegetation, and epifauna, especially if moved by storms.

What is the hardest animal to trap? ›

The toughest animal to trap is the coyote. “You have to do a number of things right in order to be able to catch foxes.” But to trap a coyote, “you've got to do everything right.” “Coyotes will kill a fox because they're in competition for food,” he said.

Cage traps: Commonly used to capture small animals like squirrels, muskrats, and raccoons, these traps operate on a cage system that has a trigger to close on the animal as it steps into the cage. This is the most humane form of a trap as it catches the animal alive.

Live traps are considered one of the most humane and effective methods for capturing wildlife. These traps allow for the safe capture and relocation of animals without causing harm. Live traps typically consist of a cage with a trigger mechanism designed to trap the animal once it enters to access the bait.

Trapping is practiced almost everywhere in the world for a variety of reasons. Trapping provides food and income; protects property, habitat and human health; and supports responsible wildlife management.

Trapping helps control animal populations by minimizing starvation, reducing spread of disease, and controlling habitat damage or destruction. Trapping helps protect personal property by preventing or decreasing: Flooding caused by beaver dams. Damage to homes, trees, gardens, and agricultural crops.

Only eight states have enacted bans or significant restrictions on leghold traps: Florida, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, California and Washington.

Proper handling techniques can reduce animal pain and distress and improve animal welfare. Animal handling methods require training, skill, and behavioral knowledge of the species you are working with.

Trappers have historically played a significant role in the fur trade, providing pelts and skins of various animal species that are used for clothing, accessories, and decorative items.

One way trapping can benefit non-hunters is by managing and controlling populations of animals that can cause damage to property or pose a threat to human safety.