Humane Trapping: Welfare Standards for Wildlife Management

Trapping of wild animals for management, research, and pest control causes significant welfare harm; humane trap standards attempt to minimise pain, injury, and distress.

Key Facts

The Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) sets killing efficiency and injury criteria for traps used in EU, Russia, and Canada for the fur trade
Spring-loaded leghold traps cause injury through clamping force, resulting in fractures, dislocations, and tissue damage in trapped animals
Live capture traps that contain rather than kill animals reduce injury risk but require timely checking to prevent death from exposure, stress, and dehydration
Box traps are widely used for small mammals in research and management; welfare depends entirely on checking frequency and handling protocols upon capture
Pitfall traps used for invertebrate monitoring cause mortality of non-target species and welfare harm to larger invertebrates without appropriate monitoring

Welfare Considerations

Trapping welfare encompasses both the immediate harm of the trap mechanism and the welfare harms that occur between capture and release or death. A trap that does not kill instantly but is left for 24 hours causes prolonged suffering regardless of its mechanical efficiency. Welfare standards for trapping require both minimum trap performance standards and mandatory checking intervals. The welfare case for transitioning from killing traps to live-capture traps with short checking intervals is strong wherever trapping for pest control or management can be conducted without immediate killing.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory trap checking intervals of 24 hours or less for all live capture traps
Support adoption of AIHTS trap standards in countries that have not yet ratified the agreement
Oppose the use of spring-loaded leghold traps in favour of more humane alternatives
Support research into non-trapping alternatives for wildlife monitoring and management where feasible
Engage with pest management providers about welfare standards for trapping methods used on your property