Wolverines are still legally trapped for fur in parts of Canada and Alaska, with trapping causing pain and stress in animals whose populations are already under climate pressure.
Leg-hold trapped wolverines endure prolonged suffering in remote areas between trap checks. Pain, fear, dehydration, and frostbite accumulate over hours or days. Self-mutilation to escape represents extreme distress. The uncertainty about wolverine population status means trapping occurs without adequate data to ensure sustainable harvest. As a wide-ranging species already under pressure from climate change and habitat loss, adding trapping mortality to an already-stressed population creates both individual welfare and conservation concerns.