Wildlife

Wild Mammal Trapping and Welfare

Trapping of wild mammals for pest control or fur causes significant welfare harm and is subject to varying standards of regulation.

Key Facts

Spring traps kill animals by spinal or skull compression and can cause prolonged suffering if improperly set
Snares can cause injury and distress in target and non-target species
Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards sets benchmarks for killing trap performance
Cage traps used for live capture and relocation can cause significant stress
Wildlife legislation requires marking and monitoring of legal traps in many countries

Welfare Considerations

Trapping causes welfare harm through injury during capture, fear and stress during confinement, and the mechanism of killing in lethal traps. Snares are particularly problematic as non-selective devices that can cause prolonged suffering in both target and non-target animals. Welfare-conscious pest management seeks to minimise trapping and adopts the most humane available methods when trapping is necessary.

What You Can Do

Support legislative reform to phase out the most inhumane trapping methods
Advocate for mandatory trap monitoring intervals to reduce suffering
Raise awareness about the welfare impact of snaring in pest control
Support non-lethal pest management alternatives where available
Report illegal or unmarked traps to wildlife law enforcement