How Trapping is Cruel

Rarely are trapped animals killed instantaneously. The overwhelming majority of trapped animals die desperate, agonizing deaths.

What is "normal" on the traplines is this: traps are placed where animals travel frequently, along creekbeds, for instance or in trees. Sometimes the trap locations are baited with urine or sex gland scents which lure the animal to a certain trap.

The animal is surprised, painfully gripped and restrained alive. Not infrequently, the animal is clasped on a part of the body which is excruciatingly painful - an eye, the muzzle, the abdomen.

In an agony of pain and confusion, the animal struggles in frenzy, often mutilating itself, dislocating joints, breaking its teeth, chewing its leg or paw - in an attempt to break free. If it succeeds, the traumatized animal has scant hope for survival in the wild; death will come surely by infection, by starvation or by the animal's being an easy prey to its predators.

Trappers have a name for the phenomenon of animals chewing off their own extremities to escape; they call it "wring-off". To the trapper, it means they have lost a pelt.

For the animal unable to break free, death is no kinder. Exhaustion and unconsciousness are the kindest possibilities, but there are other, grimmer modes of death in the trap. In Canada trap checking times vary from once every 24 hours to once every five days - and such laws are really unenforceable. An animal who does not die quickly is faced with excruciating pain and a desperately panic-filled wait.

The Three Main Traps in Use Today

1) The Leg-Hold Trap
2) The Conibear Trap
3) The Snare Trap

Each trap, and the particular way it is used, presents its own unique cruelty.

Although it is encouraging that the number of animals trapped in North America per year has dropped from about 31-33 million down to about 6 million, there still is much work to be done. We can no longer look the other way. Millions of fur-bearing animals a year are depending on us!