At the Exposed Wildlife Conservancy, our goal is to make wildlife conservation accessible and easy to understand for everyone. With knowledge comes informed decision making, and we want to change how wildlife is managed in Canada and beyond. Our trapping knowledge base aims to answer every question, from the most basic to the most complex.
Please note that the Trapping Series is focused on the commercial trapping industry only. This Series is not intended to speak to or provide perspective and opinion on trapping for Indigenous peoples' cultural and treaty protected purposes. For more information on the stance of our organization has toward Indigenous trapping please click here.
This chapter looks at the basics of trapping. It focuses on what trapping is, where it happens, what tools (traps) are used, regulations for signage and trap checking, and how trapping compares to angling and hunting.
Chapter two identifies the common arguments that are used to support trapping and discusses whether these arguments are valid or not in modern day society. Topics such as the historical significance of trapping, environmental stewardship of trapping, the sustainability of the commercial trapping industry, and trapping as a tool to manage apex predators and other wildlife are explored.
How is trapping regulated in Canada? Throughout chapter three, you will learn how commercial trapping is regulated on both a provincial and federal level within Canada.
Chapter four focuses on neck snare traps. In this chapter, you will learn what neck snares are, how they work, their effects on the environment, and more. Ethical and humane considerations of neck snares will also be explored in detail.
Chapter five explores the economic, environmental, and cultural sustainability of trapping.
There are numerous ways that you can make a positive difference in the treatment and management of fur-bearers in Canada. From donating to volunteering to sharing your experiences with fur-bearing animals, there are several opportunities to get involved, give wildlife a voice, and help combat the archaic and inhumane practices of commercial trapping.
