Wolverines are still legally trapped across much of their range, causing significant welfare harm that trapping reform efforts are working to address.
Wolverine trapping causes severe welfare harm. Leghold traps cause crushing injuries, joint damage, and in extreme cases self-amputation as animals attempt to escape. Conibear traps aim for rapid death but frequently cause prolonged suffering through incomplete kills. Bycatch trapping of wolverines — animals not intended for harvest — is particularly difficult to justify from a welfare perspective. The relatively small number of wolverines harvested for fur does not offset the significant suffering caused. Conservation arguments for trapping reform are aligned with welfare arguments — both support reducing trap density, mandating frequent checks, and transitioning to more selective or humane methods where trapping is permitted.