Wolverines and fishers are caught incidentally and intentionally in traplines across North America, with trap design and check frequency having enormous influence on the duration of suffering experienced by trapped animals.
The welfare impact of trapping depends almost entirely on trap type, correct deployment, and check frequency. An animal held in a leghold trap for 24-72 hours experiences prolonged distress, pain from the trap mechanism, exposure to weather, and the metabolic stress of sustained restraint. Self-mutilation is documented in leghold-trapped animals. Body-gripping traps that kill rapidly when correctly deployed represent a significant welfare improvement over prolonged live capture. Regulatory requirements for trap check frequency are one of the most direct welfare interventions available to legislators — reducing check intervals from 72 hours to 24 hours substantially reduces suffering in live-capture trapping.