Trapping

Policy Statement
The P.E.I. Humane Society is opposed to trapping of animals for fur or recreation. Where trapping is carried out for any reason, only those traps that cause instant death or work on the principle of live capture without pain or injury should be used.
  
Background/Rational 
Trapping involves the capture of wild or domestic animals in traps that either kill or restrain them. A humane death is one in which the animal suffers neither panic nor pain. In practice, this may be achieved by instantaneous death or by immediately rendering the animal unconscious with inevitable subsidence into death without regaining consciousness.   

The P.E.I. Humane Society seeks the end of the practice of trapping animals for fur or recreation, is committed to eliminating the suffering of trapped animals and urges the following: 

a). education of the public about animal suffering caused by trapping;

b). elimination of traps that do not produce a humane death or capture without pain or injury;

c). inspection of traps at least each 24 hours in remote locations. Ideally, all traps should be inspected at dawn and every 2-6 hours thereafter;

d). humane handling of any animal found live in a trap. The animal should immediately be humanely destroyed, released into an appropriate environment if capable of returning to a normal healthy existence or given the appropriate care;

e). comprehensive trapper education programs insisting upon use of the most humane techniques and equipment should be mandatory for all individuals applying for a trapper’s license, with regular mandatory upgrading for all trappers.

f). Trapper associations and governments should develop and require use of most humane instant killing trapping systems and holding devices, both of which cause the least amount of suffering. Where possible, trap research should avoid the use of animals;

g). Trapper associations and governments should assume proper leadership to promote and enact appropriate legislation and regulations which will require the use of only the most humane and progressive trapping systems and methods which cause the least amount of pain, panic and injury;

h). To promote the use of more humane trapping devices, a program of trap exchange must be initiated and supported by government and industry to replace trappers’ outmoded and inhumane traps with improved devices promptly, as they become available;
i). Trapping devices, other than humane live holding traps or instant kill mouse or rat traps, should be available only from authorized outlets on proof of ownership of a valid trapping or a valid authorization to trap under the sponsorship of a licenced trapper;

j). Animals deemed to be in conflict with human interests should be treated in the most humane manner possible;

Use of trapping techniques which preclude incidental trapping of domestic animals or untargeted species.

Approved by the Board 27 march 2001