Trapping

About

Indiscriminate body-crushing traps are used to capture or kill furbearing animals who are deemed a “nuisance” or who are valued only for the fur on their backs. Types of traps include snares – a wire noose that can cause trapped animals to slowly strangle to death – and leghold traps, in which animal may chew off his own paw to escape, only to die days later from the injury.

Myths about trapping abound. Trapping apologists frequently claim that trapping is humane, tightly regulated, selective, and necessary. But, in truth, trapping is a cruel practice that causes great suffering. And, trapping is everywhere – public, private, and even protected lands and recreational areas are not immune. As a result, targeted and non-targeted animals (like household pets and endangered species), and even humans, can fall victim to these traps.

Fox in a trap — Photo: Dan King Wild Alaska.

“The use of body-gripping animal traps in federal wildlife refuges is contrary to the very mission and purpose of these protected areas. These cruel traps don’t distinguish between targeted animals and protected animals, endangered species or pets, and are a safety hazard to people. It’s past time to remove this antiquated and inhumane practice from federal wildlife refuges.”

U.S. Senator Corey Booker

“Indiscriminate body-gripping traps on public land affect the welfare of wild animals and humans alike,” said Congresswoman Lowey. “That’s why I reintroduced the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act to prohibit the use of inhumane steel-jaw leghold traps, conibear kill traps, and snares within our National Wildlife Refuge System. We need to address this inherent cruelty and restore the true meaning of ‘refuge.'”

U.S. Congresswoman Nita Lowey

Non-Target Trapping Incidents Database

Millions of animals fall victim to traps each year, causing untold suffering and death for many of the creatures, not all of whom were targeted by the trappers. Dogs, cats, endangered species, and even humans can be caught in leg-hold traps, snares, or body-crushing Conibear "kill" traps. Search our database of non-target trapping incidents.