Wild fur-bearing animals including beavers, foxes, and minks continue to be trapped in North America and Russia. Leghold traps and snares cause significant welfare harm to target and non-target species.
Wild fur trapping causes severe acute welfare harm through entrapment injury and prolonged suffering during the time between capture and trapper arrival. Leghold traps cause injuries from struggle including joint dislocations, fractures, tissue damage from sustained constriction, and self-mutilation as animals attempt to free themselves. Animals may remain trapped for 24-72 hours experiencing pain, fear, exposure, and dehydration before the trapper kills them. Non-target catches of protected species including raptors and river otters add conservation harm to the welfare toll. Even more welfare-positive killing-type traps cause some degree of acute suffering if not immediately effective. The declining commercial value of wild fur as synthetic alternatives improve creates a market-driven opportunity to reduce trapping pressure.