Update: This bill failed to pass before the session ended.
Bill Description: This bill would repeal existing law by allowing the use of leghold traps and specifically allowing the trapping of otter. The bill also declares that trapping has “ecological” and other benefits, that it is a “highly regulated activity,” and that traps are humane, selective, and safe.
[teaserbreak]
Leghold traps — including “padded” leghold traps — are cruel and antiquated devices that cause enormous suffering as the animals they capture may die of dehydration, starvation, or predation from other animals if the trapper fails to check the device soon after the animal stumbles into it. They are indiscriminate and sometimes catch and kill non-target animals, including family cats and dogs and even threatened and endangered species. There are humane alternatives available to address human/wildlife conflicts and those alternatives should continue to be employed instead of using cruel leghold traps. The use of these devices should continue to be prohibited. Since Rhode Island does not address how animals found alive in the traps are to be killed and since novice trappers don’t have easy access to techniques approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association, it is likely that the animals are clubbed, suffocated, strangled, or drowned. This is far from humane.