Introduction

On behalf of the federal, provincial and territorial governments of Canada, the Fur Institute of Canada (FIC) is conducting the trap research and testing to determine whether traps meet the requirements of the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS), and to provide the data necessary for trap certification. Over several years, FIC has periodically published lists of the species-specific traps that have met the Standards and indicating their certification status. Ultimately, only those traps certified as meeting the AIHTS will be allowed for use in capturing the species listed in the Agreement.

Implementation of the AIHTS requires changes to trapping regulations. Based on a decision by the Provincial and Territorial governments, these regulatory changes are taking place in three phases. A phased-in approach for regulatory changes was necessary to meet initial AIHTS requirements in the fall of 2007. This approach took into account that, for capturing certain species, either there were no traps identified as meeting the Standards or testing technologies to evaluate trap performance had not yet been developed.

Phase I: Trapping Regulation Changes

Beginning in the fall 2007 trapping season, traps certified or having equivalent certification as meeting the AIHTS requirements were regulated for use for the following applications and species:

• Certified Killing Traps - Beaver (land and underwater), Muskrat (land), Marten, Fisher and Raccoon
• Killing Traps With Equivalent Certification - Muskrat (submersion sets employing traps that exert clamping force and maintain muskrat underwater)
• Restraining Traps - Canada Lynx

NOTE 1: For some applications and species, trap testing was incomplete and few trap models certified. For those listed below, the traps that have been certified may be used, but are not yet required by regulation.

• Killing Traps - Otter (underwater), Weasel and Canada Lynx
• Restraining Traps - Bobcat and Coyote

NOTE 2: Beginning in the 2007-2008 trapping season, kill trapping systems that had been design approved were not required by regulation but could be used:

Design Approved Trapping Systems

• Submersion sets using limb-holding traps (beaver, otter)
• Submarine cages (muskrat)
• Killing snares (all species on land; beaver and otter underwater)

Implementation of the AIHTS requires changes to trapping regulations. Based on a decision by the Provincial and Territorial governments, these regulatory changes are taking place in three phases. A phased-in approach for regulatory changes was necessary to meet initial AIHTS requirements in the fall of 2007. This approach took into account that, for capturing certain species, either there were no traps identified as meeting the Standards or testing technologies to evaluate trap performance had not yet been developed.

Phase II: Trapping Regulation Changes after the 2007-2008 Trapping Season

When a sufficient number of trap models have been certified and are available to provide trappers with additional choices, they will be required by regulation. Those regulation changes will involve the following applications and species:

• Killing Traps - River otter, Weasel, Badger, Canada Lynx and Bobcat
• Restraining Traps - Coyote, Bobcat and Wolf

NOTE 1: Until the conditions for implementing Phase II on a species-by-species basis can be met, traps currently authorized for capturing those species will continue to be allowed on an interim basis. The Provincial and Territorial Wildlife Departments will inform trappers of regulation changes as they occur.

Phase III: Trapping Regulation for Use of Cage and Box Traps

Live capture cage and box traps will be regulated in the future for live-trapping Beaver, Raccoon, Fisher, Marten, Muskrat, River Otter, Weasel, Canada Lynx, Bobcat and Badger.

Additional Information Related to Trap Certification Process

The methods used to evaluate traps, rate them against the AIHTS requirements and subsequently certify them, have a bearing on the phasing in approach for changes to species-specific trapping regulations. The following provides some useful information on these methods.

Killing Traps - Before 1997, killing traps had to be evaluated through expensive compound tests. Currently, with the exception of muskrat submersion systems, killing traps are being rated through the use of seven species-specific Computer Simulation Models (CSM) – Beaver on land and underwater, Muskrat, Marten, Raccoon, Fisher, Otter. Development of CSMs for other species is ongoing. Approval of a range of muskrat submersion systems is based on scientific studies which indicated the effectiveness of such systems to maintain muskrats underwater. Such systems do not lend themselves to CSM development, but they do meet the AIHTS requirements and therefore can be accorded equivalent certification.

Restraining Limb Holding Traps - Restraining limb holding traps are rated using field test data. Even though some coyote restraining traps have met the Standards as a result of field tests, work is ongoing to develop a CSM for evaluating coyote traps. It is not certain whether CSMs will be developed for rating other species-specific limb restraining devices.

Cage/Box Restraining Traps - Consideration is being given to the development of a comprehensive program for evaluating the performance of cage and box traps for their use related to urban wildlife control, research and relocation purposes.

Trapper Constructed Trapping Systems - The AIHTS makes allowance for trapping systems made by individual trappers to be used based on government approval of the designs of such systems. (See Note 2 under Phase I above.)

Killing Traps - Certified traps regulated for use.

Beaver (Underwater and On Land)

Fisher

Marten

Muskrat (On Land)

Raccoon

Restraining Traps - Certified traps regulated for use.

Lynx

Killing Traps - Traps certified but not yet mandatory.

Lynx

Otter (Underwater)

Weasel

Restraining Traps - Traps certified but not yet mandatory.

Bobcat

Coyote

Raccoon

Wolf

Cage or box traps

Raccoon