Pennsylvania Hunter Ed Course - Unit 8 - Benefits Of Trapping

Helps control animal populations by minimizing: Starvation Spread of diseases Damage or destruction of habitat Helps reduce damage to personal property: Flooding caused by beaver dams Destruction of trees Killing of livestock or pets Protects certain endangered or threatened species from predators Provides funding through sales of licenses Provides recreation, food, and supplemental income

The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, with assistance from state fish and wildlife agencies, is developing a set of guidelines for regulated trapping in the United States. Best Management Practices will identify the best equipment and practices that can be used to trap furbearers. These suggestions will address the welfare of captured animals and focus on the safest, most efficient, humane, and practical trapping techniques. To learn more, visit www.fishwildlife.org and click on the "Focus Areas" tab. Credit: Northeast Furbearer Resources Technical Committee Trapping and Furbearer Management in North American Wildlife Conservation; 2001

Body-Grip Trap—In Pennsylvania, this trap is legal only in water sets Designed to kill the captured animal quickly Frame wires clamp furbearer's body Snares Special type of body-gripping trap used only in water sets in Pennsylvania Less expensive, lighter in weight, and less likely to freeze in cold weather than other types of traps In Pennsylvania, snares are used only for beavers and must have a "stop-device" limiting its closure Glossary water setA trap or snare that, when set, is completely or partially submerged by water

Box Trap—May be used only on landUsed when the possibility of catching pets is highMesh box has a swinging door to let animal in, but not out Box Trap Foot-Hold Traps—Used on land or in the waterTrap holds an animal's foot and typically will cause little damage to the animal Foot-Hold Traps Cable Restraint Less expensive, lighter in weight, and less likely to freeze in cold weather than other types of traps In Pennsylvania, cable restraints are used only to trap fox and coyote from January to the end of the established fox and coyote seasons Restraints must have maximum and minimum loop stops and must have breakaway devices to help prevent capture of non-target species Trappers must successfully complete a Cable Restraint Certification or Successful Furtaking course before using cable restraints to trap

Body-Grip Traps: Mink, beaver, muskrat Foot-Hold Traps: Coyote, fox, raccoon, muskrat, bobcat, beaver, mink, opossum, skunk, weasel Box Traps: Raccoon, skunk, weasel, opossum, trapping near residential areas Snares: Lawful only for trapping beaver in Pennsylvania Cable Restraints: Lawful only for trapping coyote, and red and gray fox from January to the end of coyote and fox seasons

Traps, just like bows and firearms, need to be maintained. Maintaining this equipment ensures that the traps will work properly. Properly working traps fitted with additional chain swivels will limit injury to captured animals. All traps in Pennsylvania must have a durable identification tag that displays the trapper's name and address or an assigned identification number. Contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission to be assigned an identification number. ← Previous

Learn about the behavior of furbearers you plan to trap. Allows for the placement of a trap line that will limit the possibility of non-target catches. Place traps away from well-traveled paths or residential areas. Pets are not always on a leash. Use the appropriate bait or lure to minimize the capture of non-target species. Species have selective needs for food. Bait should not be visible. Prevents non-target species, such as hawks and owls, from being caught.

Furbearers are used for a variety of products and purposes. Clothing Meat Building materials, paint, and soap (produced from the carcass after rendering)

If you catch a non-target animal in a trap, you should release it quickly and without causing the animal harm. The steps listed below provide a procedure to release non-target species. Talk with experienced trappers to learn the best procedures for different species. Use a catchpole to restrain the animal. Pin the animal's head to the ground to restrain it. Cover the head to calm the animal. Use a shield (plywood barrier or similar material). Open the trap, and release the animal. Keep the barrier between the animal and you.

The most humane way of dispatching or killing a trapped animal is to shoot it in the head with a small caliber firearm, such as a .22 caliber rimfire rifle, which will not damage the animal's fur. Prior to shooting, remember the five primary rules of firearm safety (S.M.A.R.T.). At some locations, traps can be set to suffocate the animal when caught. An example of this type of setup is a snare placed in the water. Finally, the least preferred way to dispatch a trapped animal is by using blunt force to the back of the animal's head. Trap Sets

Trappers, just like hunters, need to conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner. Responsible trappers: Get permission to trap on private property. Place traps only where targeted species will be caught. Use correctly sized, well-maintained equipment for the species being trapped. Check traps frequently—traps must be checked every 36 hours. Dispatch or kill animals quickly and humanely. Use as much of the animal as possible. Take precautions not to trap non-target species in areas of multiple uses. Release non-target species quickly.

Responsible trappers get permission to trap on private property, use well-maintained and correctly sized equipment, check traps frequently, dispatch animals humanely, and release non-target species quickly. When placing traps, remember to learn about the furbearers you are interested in trapping, place traps away from well-traveled paths or residential areas, and use the appropriate bait or lure to minimize the capture of non-target species. There are several types of traps available: Body-Grip Traps: frame wires clamp the furbearer's body and kill the animal quickly. Snares: A special body-gripping trap used only in water sets. It is lighter in weight and less likely to freeze in cold weather. Box Traps: A mesh box that will let an animal in but not out. Foot-hold Traps: A trap that will hold an animals foot and typically cause little damage. Cable Restraint: A less expensive trap that can be used only to trap fox and coyote in Pennsylvania. The benefits of trapping include minimzing animal starvation, spread of disease, and damage of habitat; reduces damage to personal property; and protects certain endangered or threatened species from predators.