Stoats in upland Britain are subject to predator control programs on grouse moors, with welfare concerns about trapping methods and incidental bycatch of other species.
Spring trap-based control causes death, ideally quickly but sometimes not. Poorly set or maintained traps may not kill immediately causing prolonged suffering. Bycatch in stoat traps includes weasels, hedgehogs, and small birds. Stoats caught in cage traps suffer confinement stress before euthanasia. Winter trapping coincides with breeding preparation when animals are most physiologically stressed. Population control removes important predators of agricultural pest species.