Wolverines are legally trapped across much of their North American range for fur, with welfare concerns around trap-related injury and prolonged suffering.
Leghold trap capture causes acute injury from the trap mechanism and prolonged stress over many hours until the trapper checks. Self-mutilation in trapped animals is documented as they attempt to escape. Conibear body traps cause rapid death but require precise placement to avoid non-target capture. Welfare concerns are amplified by low wolverine density and reproductive rate: each trapped individual represents significant conservation loss alongside individual suffering.