Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

Important Links:

About Furbearer Management(pdf)
Trapping Best Management Practices
Trapping Fact Sheet
Links

BMP Development:

NEW! Modern Snaring Technology White Paper
Snaring is probably the oldest method of trapping furbearers, but it has come along from its ancient roots. The Association’s Furbearer Conservation Technical Work Group in conjunction with trapping experts from the National Trapper’s Association, The Furtakers of America and several U.S. trap manufacturers produced this white paper on the state of the art of modern snaring technology. It details and explains the many components used in modern snaring, and provides guidance about how they can be used to produce the best animal welfare results for captured furbearers.

Trapper Education Manual
Trapping is part of our North American heritage. First-time trappers in many
states and Canadian provinces must complete a trapper education program
covering skills, regulations and trapping's role in scientific wildlife management.

Trapper education programs teach basic techniques with a strong focus
on the responsible treatment of animals, legal methods, safety, selectivity and
ethical trapper behavior. This Trapper Education Program was developed by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

The program was developed to:
• Protect the health, safety, and welfare of people, wildlife and
domestic animals.
• Support wildlife conservation programs that sustain species and
ecosystems for the benefi t of future generations.
• Increase the benefi ts society currently receives from regulated
trapping activities.

Ownership and Use of Traps by Trappers in the United States in 2004
This report is an update to the Ownership and Use of Traps by Trappers in the US survey of 1992. It was conducted on behalf of the Association by Responsive Management. The goal of the 2004 study was similar to that of the 1992 study; to gain a better understanding of trappers, their equipment and their techniques for taking furbearing species. However, this study also comparatively notes changes in trapping equipment and techniques that have occurred since the previous survey was conducted. This study will provide information to allow informed decisions on trapping regulations, ISO standards, trapper education and trap testing to be made.

Summary of Trapping Regulations for Fur Harvesting in the United States in 2007
This report is an update to the Summary of Trapping Regulations for Fur Harvesting in the United States and Canada of 1995. It was conducted by the Association’s Furbearer Conservation Technical Work Group with assistance from state wildlife agencies. The summary information presented represents conditions and restrictions that were current within existing state laws governing regulated trapping in the United States at the time the survey was conducted. Regulations change periodically to address the challenges faced by state wildlife agencies in the management of furbearers. To understand the full relevance and importance of any given response, the listed information needs to be examined within the context and in concert with all other existing regulations.

United States International Trade Commission: Industry and Trade Summary on Furskins (No. 3666). January 2004
This summary covers furskins, raw and tanned or dressed, dyed or not dyed. Information is provided on the structure of the U.S. industry and certain foreign industries, U.S. and foreign tariff and nontariff measures, and the competitive conditions of U.S. producers in both domestic and foreign markets. The analysis primarily covers the period 1998-2002. Appendix A is an explanation of tariff and trade agreement terms. Appendix B is statistical tables.

Introduction: Best Management Practices for Trapping in the United States
This Introduction BMP explains how and why BMPs for trapping are being created and what BMPs actually are. The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that trappers can voluntarily incorporate when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Amercian Marten in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that American marten trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Weasels in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that weasel trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Beaver in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that beaver trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Bobcat in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that bobcat trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Coyotes in the Eastern United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that coyote trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the Eastern United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Coyotes in the Western United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that coyote trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the Western United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Fisher in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that fisher trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Gray Fox in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that gray fox trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Muskrat in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that muskrat trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Nutria in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that nutria trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Opossum in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that Opossum trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Raccoons in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that raccoon trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping Red Foxes in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that red fox trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

Best Management Practices: Trapping River Otter in the United States
The suggestions contained in this BMP include practices, equipment, and techniques that river otter trappers can voluntarily incorporate into their trapline, when trapping in the United States. These practices will improve the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management.

This 15-minute video presents the wildlife agency perspective on regulated trapping and furbearer management. Filled with information, insights and experiences of professional wildlife biologists, this video dispels the myths and misconceptions about this important wildlife management tool. This is a three part video. Once you have finished viewing Regulated Trapping and Furbearer Management I, please continue by viewing Regulated Trapping and Furbearer Management II, and finish by viewing Regulated Trapping and Furbearer Management III. To order a copy, contact us at 202/624-7890 or info@fishwildlife.org.

The "Trapping Matters" video presents an overview of regulated trapping and furbearer management for use in hunter education courses. This video is an excellent introduction to regulated trapping as an important wildlife management tool. This is a two part video. Once you have finished viewing Trapping Matters I, please continue by viewing Trapping Matters II. To order a copy, contact us at 202/624-7890 or info@fishwildlife.org.

Mechanical Evaluation of Trapping Devices: Speed and Load Tests

Trapping devices evaluated through the Best Management Practices for Trapping program are subjected to testing in both field and laboratory. Mechanical evaluations were conducted to measure the speed of trap closure and clamping force at various openings of traps previously field tested during BMP projects by the Centre De Recherche Industrielle Du Quebec, Quebec, Canada during 2000. This document provides the results. Since 2000, more extensive mechanical evaluations of traps have been conducted by the Alberta Research Council, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada and the Engineering Department of the University of Missouri, Columbia.

Reports summarizing technical findings and unpublished results of trap testing toward the development of trapping Best Management Practices (BMP) are available by federal fiscal year (Oct-Sept).

ConserveWildlife.org
This site presents the current professional outlook on trapping and furbearer management. It is the combined work of numerous wildlife scientists responsible for the conservation of furbearer populations in the states and provinces of the Northeast.

United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Managing problems caused by wildlife to reduce damage to agriculture and natural resources, provides Federal leadership in managing problems caused by wildlife. WS helps manage wildlife to reduce damage to agriculture and natural resources; to minimize potential threats to human health and safety; and help protect threatened and endangered species.

The Wildlife Society
Enhancing the ability of wildlife professionals to conserve diversity, sustain productivity, and ensure responsible use of wildlife resources for the benefit of society.

The Fur Institute of Canada
Committed to promoting a standard of excellence in the conservation and sustainable development of Canada's fur resources.

The National Trappers Association
Working to promote sound conservation, legislation and administrative procedures to save and faithfully defend the natural resources of the United States.