Overview:
State wildlife agencies and trappers are developing "Best Management Practices" (BMPs) for trapping furbearers in the United States as a way to improve animal welfare, Sustain Regulated Trapping, and maintain public acceptance. The Fur Resources Technical Subcommittee of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) is working with Congress and the USDA-Wildlife Services to obtain funding for a four year trap research project. Results from this project will be used in conjunction with existing data to design BMPs for trapping in all five regions of the United States. Our goal is to have BMPs for trapping published by 2002.
Research Priorities, Criteria, and Process
The trap testing needs for twenty-three species of furbearers were prioritized and assessed. Criteria considered for species prioritization included:
- the type and proportion of trapping systems predominantly used; the total harvest in this country the importance to the trapper; the amount and type of economic damage caused; the urgency and opportunity for additional work from the biologists' perspective; and the availability and quality of data from past trap research programs.
The highest priority for trap research includes:
- raccoon coyote red fox nutria muskrat gray fox mink pine marten (see below: "Recommended trap testing priorities , by species")
Criteria for selecting traps for regional BMPs include injuries to animals, trap efficiency, selectivity, safety to users, and practicability. Traps will be selected using data from a report by IAFWA and the Gallup Organization, Inc., entitled "Ownership and Use of Traps By Trappers In the United States in 1992." We also invite trappers to recommend traps an modifications for inclusion in this process.
Trap testing is conducted during the state-regulated trapping season. Trappers that participate in this project are volunteers and are compensated for the animals trapped. Technicians are assigned to accompany each trapper and will record trapline data as well as prepare target and non-target species' carcasses for shipment. Two veterinary laboratories with extensive trap research experience have been contracted to complete necropsies and injury assessments, in order to discover which traps and capture devices do the best job of reducing injuries to animals. State wildlife agencies, in cooperation with IAFWA and the USDA National Wildlife Research Center in Ft. Collins, CO, will be conducting the majority of the trap research associated with BMPs. Trap tests will be conducted beginning in 1997, and will continue through 2001. Commercially available traps and modifications will be tested.
In cooperation with Canadian scientists, research will be conducted on human killing traps for those species where appropriate. BMPs will include recommendations for the use of human killing traps for those species and under those conditions where reasonable and prudent. The Canadian research facility is the best of its kind in the world and nearly $10 million in trap development and testing has already been spent to improve animal welfare.
1997 Trap Testing Program
A six-state project focusing on raccoon suites was conducted in two primary regions (Midwest - KS, MO, WI and Southeast - NC, SC, GA).
Three Volunteer Trappers assisted in each state. Four types of traps were tested:- No 1 1/2 Victor coil-spring trap. No 1 1/2 victor Soft Catch trap. No 1 Victor Soft Catch Trap. EGG trap.
A three-state coyote/red fox suite project was conducted in the Northeast (OH, NY, VT).
Three volunteer trappers assisted in each state. Three types of traps were tested- No. 1 1/2 Victor Soft Catch Trap. No. 2 Victor coil-spring trap. No. 2 Padded BMI.
Both of these projects were initial trials for these species in these regions and provided critical logistical experience.
1998 Trap Testing Program
A six state project focusing on raccoon suites was conducted in two primary regions: Midwest - IA, MO, OH, WI
Three volunteer trappers will assist in each state. Four types of traps will be tested (each will be fitted with a 30" chain and set in the water):
- No. 11 long-spring Sleepy Creek.
- No. 11 long-spring Sleepy Creek double jaw.
- No. 1.5 Sleepy Creek coil-spring, double jaw.
- Tomahawk Cage Trap.
Southeast - AR, GA, NC
- Four volunteer trappers will assist in each state Four types of traps will be tested (each will be fitted with a SoftCatch chain assembly and set on land or in water):
- No 1.0 Victor coil-spring.
- No. 1.0 Victor coil-spring, three sixteenth inch lamination.
- No 1.5 Victor coil-spring, three sixteenth inch lamination, and springs replaced with SoftCatch springs (0.135).
- No. 1.0 Victor coil-spring, double jaw OR Duffer raccoon trap.
All foothold traps for raccoon suites will be center-swiveled and fitted with pan stops.
A seven-state coyote and red fox site project will be conducted in three primary regions:
Northeast - ME, NY, PA
Four volunteer trappers will assist in each state. Three types of traps will be tested:- No. 1.75 Victor coil-spring trap.
- No 1.75 Victor coil-spring trap, offset with three sixteenth inch lamination.
- No. 1 and three quarter Sleepy Creek coil-spring trap, offset with wider-T jaws.
West - OR, WA
Four volunteer trappers will assist in each state. Four types of traps will be tested:
- No 3.0 Bridger coil-spring, offset.
- No. 3.0 Bridger coil-spring, offset, one quarter inch lamination, 4-coiled, reinforced base plate.
- No. 2.0 Bridger coil-spring, offset, one quarter inch lamination, 4-coiled, reinforced base plate.
- No. 3.0 Victor SoftCatch, 4-coiled, reinforced base plate.
Midwest (Great Plains) - NE, SD
Three volunteer trappers will assist in each state. Three types of traps will be tested:
- No. 3.0 Bridger coil-spring.
- No. 2.0 Bridger coil-spring.
- No. 3.0 Victor SoftCatch, 4-coiled, reinforced base plate.
All foothold traps for the coyote and fox suite will be center-swiveled and fitted with J.C. Conner's in-line shock spring.
A Project will be conducted in Alaska on the efficiency of the 120 Conibear with pan-activated triggers, and the No. 1.0 longspring Sleepy Creek for trapping American Marten. Three trappers will assist on this project.
A nutria suite project will be conducted in Louisiana. Proposed test traps include:
- No. 11 long-spring Sleepy Creek, double jaw.
- No. 2.0 Victor long-spring trap.
- No 1.0 Victor SoftCatch
- No 1.5 Victor SoftCatch.
Recommended Trap Testing Priorities By Species
High Priority:
- Raccoon
- Coyote
- Red Fox
- Nutria
- Muskrat
- Gray Fox
- Mink
- Pine Marten
Medium Priority:
- Beaver
- Bobcat
- Opossum
- Striped Skunk
- Gray Wolf
- Badger
- Swift or Kit Fox
- Fisher
Low Priority
- Canada Lynx
- Bassarisk (Ring-tailed Cat)
- Arctic Fox
- Wolverine
- Weasels
