Laws About Animal Traps

Humans have used traps to capture animals since prehistoric times. Trapping is a relatively simple, effective and economical way to harvest wildlife, whether the animal is being sought for food, fur or to be removed as a pest. Trapping wildlife, other than removing nuisance animals from your personal home or property, is regulated by state wildlife management agencies. State wildlife codes dictate when, where, how and what type of traps are legal to use.

  1. Seasons

    • Specific dates are often set to establish seasons for trapping animals sought for food or fur. The seasons for trapping game animals are normally established outside their breeding season to preclude the capture of parent animals resulting in young orphaned wildlife left to fend on their own. For most species, the breeding season ends in mid to late summer. The season for trapping fur bearing animals is often set to coincide with the period of the year when their pelts are "prime," meaning the fur is fully mature, luxurious and has optimum value. Generally, most pelts are prime from mid-autumn through early winter.

    Locations

    • Trapping laws often dictate where traps are allowed. Most often, restrictions on trap placement strive to eliminate conflict between trappers and non-trappers and to minimize the chance of youngsters or pets from finding and potentially being injured. Trapping location restrictions are also set to respect private and public property rights.

    Trap Types

    • Legal animal traps include cage traps that snap close to encapsulate animals, foot traps that snap shut on an animal's foot and restrain them like handcuffs, cable restraints made from thin wire cable that closes on an animal's neck and body grip traps that snap closed on the body of animal. The first three types of traps are usually non-lethal, capturing and holding the animal alive. Body grip types, such as the common mousetrap and others, are lethal and quickly kill an animal caught in them.

    Use of Traps

    • There are many restrictions limiting the use of traps. The sizes of traps allowed are often regulated as well. All states ban foothold traps with sharp tooth-like prongs. Specific restrictions about trapping near animal burrows or dens are sometimes set. The type of bait allowed is usually established by local laws, which often dictate that bait be covered to prevent it being found by birds that might accidentally get caught. What trappers are allowed or required to do with captured animals is also regulated. Many of the rules and restrictions are geared toward insuring the captured animals are treated fairly and as humanely as possible, as well as for the safety of trappers or others who may encounter these traps.