Arkansas Trapper Education Manual

8/7/2019 Arkansas Trapper Education Manual

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Acknowledgements

Funding for trapper education student manual and related materials was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Inter-

national Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA) through a Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Multi-state Grant. The

copyright is held by the IAFWA. Materials for print developed under the grant are free for use by state, provincial, and territorial sh and

wildlife agencies. Images used in the manual come from many sources including public domain collections, state and federal agencies,

and private companies. Most of the images require separate licensing for use in other types of publications.

Hundreds of individuals have contributed to the development of the IAFWA Trapper Education Program. Most state and provincial wild-

life agencies provided copies of their trapper education materials for review. Many agency personnel provided comments on materials,

answered questions, ran pilot courses, or helped in other ways. Many trappers, including members of the National Trappers Associationand the Fur Takers of America also contributed. Special thanks go to the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Ohio State Trappers Association,

Hal Sullivan, Pat Howard, and Doug Wilson.

Members of the steering committee spent many hours reviewing documents, attending meetings, and providing advice as the program

developed over two years. Committee members include: Tom Decker, Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department; Steve Hall, Texas Parks

and Wildlife Department; Susan Langlois, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; Eric Nuse, International Hunter Education

Association; John Organ, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Judy Stokes, New Hampshire Fish and Game; and Rick Tischaefer, Trapper

Education Consultant, North Dakota.

Samara Trusso, Program Manager of the IAFWA, coordinated the development of the Trapper Education Program. The materials were

developed through a contract with Silvertip Productions, Ltd. Jim Wentz of Silvertip served as the primary author of the documents.

State Equal Opportunity Statement

Photo and Artwork Credits

CDC--Center For Disease Control; Eyewire.com; FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; IAFWA; Joe Goodman, Artist, Courtesy of IAFWA; Natalene

Cummings, Artist, Courtesy of IAFWA; Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife; Conservation Commission of the State of Missouri; Ohio Divi-

sion of Wildlife & Hal Sullivan; Silvertip Productions, Ltd. & Mary Wentz, Jim Wentz, Mike McNeese; Texas Parks and Wildlife Department & Steve Hall;

USDA United States Department of Agriculture; USGS - United States Geological Survey; Nielsen/Painet - Erwin C. Nielsen/Painet Inc.; Wisconsin

Department of Natural Resources; Wyoming Game and Fish Department & Chris Madson

Copyright 2005 International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies


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Trapper Education ManualTable o Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction to Trapper Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 2 Historical Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 3 Furbearer Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 4 Trapping Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 5 Best Management Practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 6 Traps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 7 Trapping Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 8 Using Bait, Lure, and Urine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 9 Selective Trapping Techniques . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 10 Water Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 11 Land Sets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 12 Cable Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 13 Trapping Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 14 Running a Trapline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 15 Using Furbearers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 16 Handling Fur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 17 Responsible Trapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 18 Furbearers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appendix A Traps, Sets, and Attractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Appendix B Pelt Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-9

10-17

18-25

26-31

32-25

36-47

48-51

52-53

54-57

58-67

68-77

78-85

86-95

96-101

102-105

106-115

116-121

122-135

136-137

138-139

Glossary


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2 Chapter 1

Content Standard - Students demonstrate an understanding of the

purpose of trapping and trapper education in todays society

Introduction

Trapping is part o our North American heritage. First-time trappers in many

states and Canadian provinces must complete a trapper education programcovering skills, regulations, and trappings role in scientic wildlie manage-ment. Trapper education programs teach basic techniques with a strong ocuson the responsible treatment o animals, legal methods, saety, selectivity, and

ethical trapper behavior.

This Trapper Education Program was developed by the International Asso-ciation o Fish and Wildlie Agencies (IAFWA). The Association representsproessionals rom the sh and wildlie agencies o the states, provinces, andederal governments o the U.S. and Canada. The program was developed to:

protectthehealth,safety,andwelfareofpeople,wildlife,and

domestic animals

supportwildlifeconservationprogramsthatsustainspeciesand

ecosystems or the benet o uture generations

increasethebenetssocietycurrentlyreceivesfromregulated

trapping activities

Recognize that the decision to become a trapper repre-sents a serious commitment of time and dedication to

responsible behavior

Trapping is a highly regulated activity because the public is concerned aboutwildlie conservation and the welare o wild animals. Regulations aredesigned to help manage urbearing animals using sae and selective equip-ment and techniques.

Ohio DOW Photo

Trapping benets

society

Trapping is highly regulated

Trapping is a highly engaging,

year-round activity

Chapter 1

Introduction to Trapper Education


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Trapper Education Manual 3

Saety - Animal Welare - Responsibility - Furbearer Conservation

Trapping takes a lot o time and dedication. Trappers spend time studying

wildlie, scouting, preparing traps, working with landowners, setting traps,running traplines, and preparing pelts. When trapping season starts, trappers

must check the traps every day until they are removed.

Society, trappers and non-trappers alike, will not accept illegal or unethicalbehavior. This course can teach you the basics. You must be willing to spendthe time and eort to trap responsibly.

List ve positive or negative values of furbearers

including ecological, biological, cultural, aesthetic, and

economic values

Today ur products and trapping are still o cultural and economic importance.Furbearers continue to be used and managed as valuable, and renewable,natural resources.

Values associated with urbearers:

Economic-Positivevaluesincludesfurs,meat,andby-productssuch

as perume and shing lures. Examples o negative values includecrop depredation, property damage, and ooded roads.

Ecological-Furbearershavepositivevalueaspredatorsandpreyin

unctioning ecosystems. Excessive numbers o urbearers can have

negative values i they harm habitats or prey on endangered animals.

Cultural-Trappingisvaluedbymanypeopleaspartoftheircultural

heritage. Trapping involves outdoor skills, knowledge and respector wildlie, and amily activities. Some people look to nature orthe land to provide vegetables, rewood, venison, and urbearers.

Trapping provides these people with needed ood and clothing.

Biological-Furbearershavepositivevaluesthathelpusunderstandhuman health and the eects o environmental pollutants. Negativebiological values include human exposure to disease and parasites.

Aesthetic-Furbearershavemanypositiveaestheticvaluesforfurand

wildlie watching.

Illegal or unethical behavior is

not acceptable. Show respect

for wildlife, people, and

property

Ohio DOW Photo

Farmers who have crop damage

will often give you

permission to trap

Trapping is a way of life for

many people

Silvertip Production


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Chapter 1


4 Chapter 1

List a minimum of four benets regulated trapping

provides to society

Responsible trappers provide these benets to society:

DiseaseControl-Whentrappersreducelocalfurbearerpopulationsit

helps reduce the spread o diseases among animals and people.

HabitatProtection-Whenfurbearersoverpopulatetheycan

destroy habitat. For example, the harvest o nutria in Louisiana helpsprotect 3.6 million acres o coastal wetlands.

EndangeredSpeciesProtection-Footholdtrapshelpprotectmany

rare and endangered species rom predators. Examples include thedesert tortoise, sea turtles, whooping cranes, black-ooted errets, andpiping plovers.

PropertyProtection-Farmersandotherlandownersbenet whe

trappers remove excess urbearers that threaten property and crops.

WildlifeRestoration-Trappersusefootholdtrapstoharmlessly

capture species such as river otters in states where they are plentiulso they can be released in other states to re-establish populations.

WildlifeResearch-Footholdtrapsandcabledevicesaretheonlyeective means or catching elusive species such as wolves, coyotes,and oxes. Wildlie biologists depend on traps and trappers to helpstudy many species o wildlie.

Choose correctly that trapping is an individual privilege,

not an individual right

In most states, trapping is an individual privilege available to all citizens whochoose to ollow regulations and behave responsibly. Trappers who violatelaws can lose their privilege to trap. I trappers as a group do not behaveresponsibly, citizens could decide to stop all trapping.

Some states have made it a collective right to hunt, sh, and trap. This pro-tects the activity o trapping or uture generations. It does not protect trap-ping privileges or people who violate trapping regulations. Judges can, anddo, suspend trapping privileges or serious violations.

Rabies and tularemia are two of

the diseases humans may get

from furbearers

Wetland habitats are home to

hundreds of species of wildlife

FWS Photo

Whooping Crane

When voters restricted trap-

ping in Massachusetts in 1996

landowner beaver complaints

doubled

Trappers have helped restore

river otter populations in 19

states - visit

www.convservewildlife.org

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

survey revealed 487 wildlife

management programs that

involved trapping on 281

national wildlife refuges

FWS Photo


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Identify a minimum of two state or national trappers

associations that provide materials and continuing

education for trappers

Trappers have ormed state and national organizations to help address issuesrelated to trapping and urbearer management. Two national groups includethe National Trappers Association and the Fur Takers o America.

The National Trappers Association (NTA) has the ollowing purpose

statement:

Topromotesoundconservation,legislation,andadministrative

procedures;

Tosaveandfaithfullydefendfromwastethenaturalresourcesofthe

United States;

Topromotesoundenvironmentaleducationprograms;and

Topromoteacontinuedannualfurharvestusingthebesttools

presently available or that purpose.

The Fur Takers o America (FTA) has the ollowing purpose:

Topromoteinterestinandaccumulateanddisseminateknowledge

concerning the trapping o ur bearing animals among persons

interested therein.

You can nd out more about the NTA and FTA at their Web sites:

http://www.nationaltrappers.com/

http://www.furtakersofamerica.com/

The Web sites also link to state trapping associations, online bulletin boards,

and other helpul organizations.

Write the name o your state trapping association here:

______________________________________________

There are many benets to membership in trapping organizations. You willlearn new techniques to become more successul, be invited to meetings andother activities, gain a greater understanding o wildlie management, and

learn about issues aecting trapping.

Organized trappers, hunters,

and anglers have supported sh

and wildlife conservation pro-

grams for more than 100 years

Membership in state and

national trapping organizations

will help you become a more

successful and responsible

trapper

FWS Phot

Arctic Fox

Online bulletin boards for trap-pers are a good way to learn

new techniques and solve prob-

lems. Post a question, and get

answers from friendly, experi-

enced trappers.


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Chapter 1


6 Chapter 1

Know the legal types of traps that may be used in your

state

Each state regulates the types o traps that are legal. States consider animalwelare, efciency, selectivity, and saety when they select legal traps.

Deadfallsandmanytypesoftraps,includingtrapswithteeth,areprohibited.

Legal traps all into two categories known as kill-type, and live-restrainingdevices. Put a check mark beside the traps that are legal to use in your state.

State: _________________ Year: __________________

Basic Trap Types LegalFoothold Traps

Body-gripping Traps

Cable Devices

Cage traps

Traps with teeth

Deadfalls

Other

Name the species of furbearers that inhabit your state

Eyewire.com

Raccoon

FWS Photo

Coyote

The ollowing species are known as urbearers in North America. Some othese species will not be present in your state. Even i a species is presentthere may be no open trapping season or it in your state.

Place a check in the box on the ollowing chart to indicate i a species ispresent, and i there is an open trapping or hunting season or it in your state.

Use your state hunting and trapping regulations brochure to nd thisinormation.

In other chapters you will learn

more about trap types and trap-

ping techniques. Foothold traps,

for instance, are live-restraining

devices, but they can be used in

submersion sets to kill aquatic

furbearers

Submarine or Colony Trap

trap for multiple muskrats

Ohio DOW Photo

Trapping technology and tech-niques have shown continuous

improvement for nearly 200

years

Raccoons and coyotes are

widely distributed in the U.S.


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Species Present Open Season

Coyote

Red Fox

Gray Fox

Gray Wolf

Swift/Kit Fox

Arctic Fox

Beaver

Muskrat

Nutria

Bobcat

Canada Lynx

Mink

River Otter

Fisher

Marten

Weasels

Striped Skunk

Badger

Opossum

Raccoon

Ringtail - Bassarisk

Wolverine

Other:

FWS PhotoNutria

FWS PhotoGray Fox

Even though a furbearer is

present within your state, it may

be restricted to specic habitats

within a certain range

State wildlife agencies prohibit

the taking of any species if it

would harm the long-term sus-

tainability of the population

Responsible trappers care

about wildlife conservation and

animal welfare

Nutria were introduced from

South America. They are found

in the gulf coast states, parts of

the east coast, Washington and

Oregon

The gray fox is common in

many parts of the country


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Chapter 1


8 Chapter 1

Know that the Trapper Education Course is based on

Best Management Practices developed by wildlifebiologists, trappers, and researchers

State sh and wildlie agencies, trapping organizations, veterinarians, anduniversityresearchershelpdevelopBestManagementPractices(BMPs)for

regulated trapping in the United States.

TrappingBMPsaredocumentsthatprovideinformationtohelptrappers

practicesafe,humane,andecienttechniques.BMPsdescribedierenttypes

o traps, how they work, how traps should be set, and what training may beneededforpeoplewhouseBMPtraps.

FivecriteriaareconsideredwhendevelopingBMPs:

Animalwelfare

Trapeciency

Trapselectivity

Trapper&publicsafety

Practicalapplication

BMPsprovideguidancetowildlifeagenciesandhelpresponsibletrappers

make decisions in the eld.

FWS Photo

River Otter

Silvertip Productions

Opening Day


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10 Chapter 2

Content Standard -Students use knowledge of history, public atti-

tudes about wildlife, and the North American Model of Wildlife Conser-

vation to understand regulated trapping as a legitimate activity

Students become aware of the fur trades role in the

exploration and settlement of North America

North Americas ur trade began during the 1500s when Europeans ex-plored the eastern coast. American Indians gave the Europeans urs, deerhides, and meat in exchange or iron tools, wool blankets, colorul cloth,andguns.SamuelDeChamplain,aFrenchexplorer,establishedtherst

NorthAmerican ur trading post at Quebec in 1608.

The ur trade became North Americas primary business. It was dominated byFrance until 1760. Numerous cities such as New York, Chicago, and St. Louis

started as trading posts.

Manywarsandbattleswerefoughtoverthefurtrade.Duringthe1600s,the

Iroquois Nation requently battled other native tribes in Canada and the OhioValley to gain control over land where urbearers lived. This period o time isknowntodayastheBeaverWars.

European nations also struggled or control o land and native trade. The

Pilgrims at Plymouth issued licenses to regulate those who were permittedtotradefurswithnativepeople.TheBritishgainedcontrolofthefurtrade

in 1760 ater winning the French and Indian War. In 1816, the United Statestook control when Congress made it illegal or oreigners to trade in thiscountry.

Thefurtradedeclinedovertime,reachingalowabout1850.Habitatde-struction and unregulated killing made urbearers scarce. Europeans wereavoring silk over beaver elt, and American Indian ur suppliers had de-

clined due to disease, warare, and displacement rom their homelands.

Duringseveralcenturiesoffurtrading,therewasnoeorttoconserve

wildlie or protect habitat. Everyone competed or the same wildlie re-

FWS Photo

Fun to Know

Beaver felt hats were prized

possessions among European

men during the 1700s and early

1800s. They were expensive

to make. The beaver werecaptured in North America and

shipped a long distance to reach

Europe. The manufacturing

process was complex.

FWS Photo

Kit Fox

Chapter 2

HistoricalConsiderations


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source.Beaverandotterwereeliminatedfrommuchofthecountry.The

government did not regulate seasons or methods that could be used totake wildlie. Furbearers o all kinds were shot, speared, snared, or killed

using deadalls. Ponds were sometimes drained so all the beaver could becaptured.

Widespreadhabitatdestructionplayedakeyrole.Duringtheearly1800s

millions o acres o wetlands were drained, orests were cleared or arms,and prairies were plowed under. Streams and rivers ran heavy with silt,sewage, and industrial waste. In the East, nearly all species o sh and wild-

lie were in decline.

Steel traps did not play a major role in the development o the ur trade or the

widespread declines o beaver, otters, and other urbearers. Steel traps werenot mass produced or widely available until ater 1823.

Students recognize that sh and wildlife resources are

publicly owned, and managed according to societys

laws, values, and attitudes

In North America wildlie is a public resource, owned by no individual. Stateand ederal wildlie agencies manage wildlie or the benet o all people.Public values and attitudes about wildlie determine how it can be used. Sincethe rst European contact, peoples attitudes about wildlie have changed.

People sometimes have conicting attitudes about the way wildlie shouldbe used or managed. The most serious conicts are among people who havedierentviewsaboutkillingwildlife.However,evenpeoplewhoholdsimilar

views may disagree on how animals such as urbearers should be managed.

Attitudes and Values

The values people place on wildlie underlie their attitudes about when andhow animals may be used. People who use wildlie or subsistence mayrevere animals even though they harvest wildlie or ood and clothing.People who misuse or try to exterminate wildlie do not value animals at alluntil they are dead.

Conservationists place the highest values on preserving habitats, ecosystems,and sustainable wildlie populations. Conservationists accept regulated har-vests o surplus animals as appropriate.

Two kinds of beaver were used

to make felt hats. At rst, coat

beaver were preferred. These

were furs that had been worn by

American Indians until the guard

hairs wore off.

Parchment beaver were prime

pelts, but for a long time they

had to be shipped to Russia for

processing to remove the guard

hairs. Eventually French and

English hat makers discovered

the Russian secrets and began

to use parchment beaver for all

their felt hats. The nal blow to

the early fur trade came when

silk hats gained popularity in

Europe.

Eyewire.com

Beaver

Great Hinckley Hunt, 1818

On December 24, 1818, 600

armed men encircled Hinckley

Township in northeastern Ohio.

They marched toward a central

point and shot 300 deer, 21

bears, 17 wolves, plus hundreds

of turkey, fox, and raccoons.

This was an effort to extermi-

nate all the wildlife.


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Chapter 2


12 Chapter 2

Strict protectionists value individual animals. They tend to oppose hunting

and trapping out o concern or individual animals. Some protectionists havea mistaken belie that hunting and trapping will threaten the entire popula-

tion.

Animal rights activists believe all animals have the same rights as humans.They oppose any human use o animals and may value an animals lie as muchas a human lie.

Subsistence Attitude

Prior to European inuence wildlie was a source o ood, clothing, and tools

or American Indians. They had ew crops to grow, and no livestock. The liveso plants and wild animals were spiritually and culturally connected to thelives o native peoples.

Later,pioneerssuchasDanielBooneandSimonKentondependedonwildlife

as they opened up new territory or settlement. Today, only a ew people totallydepend on wildlie or subsistence.

Utilitarian Attitude

European settlers and American Indians alike viewed wildlie as a commonresource. No one owned wildlie until they killed it. Some people made theirliving by killing animals or ur, meat, or eathers. At the time there were no

government agencies to manage and protect wildlie.

Extermination Attitude

When people started arming in the wilderness, wildlie became a nuisance.

Bears,wolves,andmountainlionswereathreattopeopleorlivestock.Deer,

raccoon, and squirrels damaged crops. Farmers shot wildlie, or paid others to

do it. Government agencies paid bounties on many animals.

Duringthe1800sformermilitaryocerssometimesorganizedarmiesto

conductwarsofexterminationonwildanimals.Communitiesheldevents

to see who could kill the most wildlie on a given day or weekend. Wide-spread events could result in tens o thousands o animals being killed in asingle day.

Conservation Attitude

FWS Photo

Grand Squirrel Hunt -Franklin County, Ohio 1880

Newspaper Story

The hunt was conducted

agreeably to the instructions in

our last paper. On counting the

scalps it appeared that 19,660

scalps were produced. It is im-

possible to say what numbers in

all were killed, as a great many

of the hunters did not come in.

We think we can safely chal-

lenge any other county in theState to kill squirrels with us.

Market Hunters

Before wildlife was protected by

seasons and bag limits,

market hunters killed millions

of animals a year to supply

food to restaurants and grocery

stores. Market hunters had a

strict utilitarian attitude toward

wildlife. They were not hunters

according to todays meaning of

the word.


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Bythemid-1800smanypeoplenolongerdependedonwildlifeforsurvival.

Some began to enjoy hunting, shing, and camping as leisure activities.

Habitatdestruction,markethunting,andexterminationeortswerereduc-ing animal populations. As wildlie became scarce, conservation became aconcern or hunters. Conservationists wanted to save critical habitats andremaining populations o wildlie. There was no scientic knowledge aboutwildlie management. It took decades to create natural resource agencies andunding sources. Leaders such as President Theodore Roosevelt, a hunter,created public support or wildlie and a conservation ethic.

Today, wildlie conservation programs are based upon sustainable use. Indi-vidual animals may be used in accordance with laws, while habitats and

animal populations are preserved. Many people, including hunters andtrappers, are conservationists who care about wildlie while recognizing thatregulated use is benecial to society and the resource.

Preservation Attitude

Many people value wildlie but they ail to see the positive connectionbetween hunting and trapping, and sustainable populations. Preservationistsmayopposehuntingandtrappinginthebeliefitendangersanimals.However,

many preservationists are open-minded, and willing to examine acts about

wildlie management.

Animal Rights Attitude

A small but highly vocal group o Americans believe in animal rights. Theprimary concern o animal rights advocates is the moral obligation opeople. They believe animals have the same rights as humans and there-ore oppose any human use o animals including hunting, trapping, arm-ing practices, research on animals, rodeos, circuses, horse races, and otheranimal-related activities. Some animal rights proponents even oppose

owning animals as pets.

Apathetic Attitude

A high percentage o the American public is growing up with little con-nection to the land. Few o these people think about wildlie on a dailybasis, and most have no personal experience that would help shape theirattitude. I they encounter wildlie doing damage to their property, they

may want it exterminated or removed. I someone shows them pictures o

FWS Phot

Sport Hunters

The term sport hunter arose

in the United States during the

mid-1800s to distinguish those

who practiced fair chase hunt-

ing techniques from commercial

market hunters. Sport hunters

placed limits on themselves andtheir hunting methods in order to

test their skills and give animals

a reasonable opportunity to

escape. The code of the sports-

man arose to dene proper

conduct for hunters.



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Elimination of Markets for Wildlife

The elimination o commercial killing (market hunting) o most wildlie ormeat, eathers, or other uses was critical in halting what would have been

atragedyofthecommons.Furbearersareanexception.Usingregulated

trapping, urbearer populations will sustain a commercial market and providesignicant benets to society.

Allocation of Wildlife by Law

Public privileges to use wildlie and have a say in its management are guar-

anteedbylaw.Huntingandtrappingprivilegesarenotrestrictedtowealthy

landowners or granted as special considerations. Individuals can lose their

privileges i they violate laws pertaining to the legal harvest o wildlie.

Wildlife May Be Killed Only for a Legitimate Purpose

Killingwildlifeforfrivolousreasonsisprohibitedbylaw.Ifsocietyisgo-

ing to sanction the killing o wildlie it must be or a legitimate purpose suchas using the animal or its parts or ood, clothing, medicine, sel-deense, or

property protection.

Wildlife Is Considered an International Resource

TheMigratoryBirdTreatyof1916betweentheUnitedStatesandCanada

was the worlds rst signicant international treaty or the management owildlie. Today, waterowl, songbirds, and other migratory wildlie benetrom international management and regulation.

Science Is the Proper Tool for Discharge of Wildlife Policy

Science has been the primary basis or wildlie restoration and management,and the ormation o the wildlie proession. North Americans used wildliescience as a basis or managing wildlie decades ahead o everyone else in theworld.

Democracy of Hunting and Trapping

Tragedy of the Commons

The Tragedy of the Commons

relates to common resources

that are available to all. In this

situation, the greediest will gain

the most, for a time. Restrictions

on use of common resources

are necessary to prevent

overuse by individuals that

could result in the loss of these

resources to society.

Eyewire.com

Red Fox

FWS Phot

Muskrat


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Chapter 2


16 Chapter 2

In North America, everyone has the opportunity to participate in regulated

hunting and trapping. President Theodore Roosevelt wrote about the soci-etal gains to be made by keeping land available or hunting or all people.

This is very dierent rom a model that existed or centuries in Europe, wherewealthy people owned wildlie and the land, and only the wealthy could shand hunt. In North America, wildlie is owned by the public, and responsiblecitizens have equal opportunities to participate in regulated hunting or trap-ping.

Huntersandtrappersprovidethefundingforwildlifemanagementprograms

and the purchase o critical habitats. When they join together with a commonpurpose, hunters and trappers are a political orce speaking out in avor o wildlie conservation.

Thanks to conservation-minded hunters and trappers, species such as elk, deergeese, wild turkeys, wood ducks, beaver, bald eagles, and river otters are more

numeroustodaythantheywerein1900.Hunters,trappers,andotherconser-vationists were the rst people to place a value on living wildlie. As a result,

wildlie is now managed as a public resource to be conserved or the benet oall.

Students use their knowledge of history, public attitudes

about wildlife, and the North American Model of Wildlife

Conservation to participate in discussions about

regulated trapping and the role of trappers in todays

society

Think about each o the people in the ollowing scenarios and the attitudes theymay have about urbearers and trapping. What would you do in this situation?I you could talk to the people, what would you say? What might change theieelings? I everyone in your community had the same attitudes about wildlie

what might happen as a result?

Scenario 1: You stop at a roadside stand where a armer sells ruits andvegetables.YouoverhearacustomersayWhyisyoursweetcornsoexpensive

thisyear?ThefarmersaysRaccoonshaveeatennearlyhalfmycorn.Inever

sawsomuchdamage.

Scenario 2: Your amily has trapped on several properties in your neighbor-hood or many years. One property with two large ponds was sold to aamily rom another state. A month beore trapping season opens you stopby to introduce yoursel. A young child waves at you as you pull in the drive.

Furbearers are not considered

to be migratory. State sh and

wildlife agencies are responsible

for managing furbearers.

Eyewire.com

Coyote

FWS Photo

Bobcat


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As you get out o the car you notice a bumper sticker on the car in ront o

you.ItsaysRealMenDontEatMeat.Thefrontdooropensandayoung

man steps out to check on the child.

Scenario 3: You take your dog to the vet or annual shots. While you arewaiting a woman rushes in crying and holding a badly injured cat. She tellsthe receptionist her cat is dying ater being attacked by a coyote.

Scenario 4: You are sitting in a restaurant having lunch. You overhear aconversation at the table next to you. It sounds like the three men sitting thereare poaching deer and selling the meat, but you arent sure. Sometimes their

talk sounds like it is in code. When you leave the restaurant there is a truckparked next to you. You see a spotlight on the seat. As you back out you noticeblood and deer hair on the bumper.

FWS Phot

River Otter


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18 Chapter 3

Content Standard -Students use knowledge of furbearer management

principles, practices, and issues to explain current management pro-

grams in their state

Introduction

Wildlifemanagementisascience.Wildlifebiologistsareprofessionals.Biolo-gists apply the basic principles o ecology to maintain and manage wildlie.Many biologists are as highly trained as physicians, lawyers, or college proessors.

Some wildlie biologists specialize in the management o urbearers and theihabitats. Furbearer biologists monitor animal populations, habitat, and diseases

that may aect urbearers or cause human health problems. They develop management goals and create plans to meet those goals.

Furbearer biologists set regulations to protect or restore threatened and endangered species, allow or the harvest o surplus animals, or reduce overabundanurbearer populations. They also work to educate landowners and the generapublic. Without public education, it is difcult to have public support or man-agement programs.

Few people truly understand wildlie management. Along with biologists, experienced trappers are among the people most knowledgeable about wildlie. Thiis because trappers must study wildlie and habitats to be successul.

As people learn more about wildlie, they usually care about it more. When car

ing leads to actions that conserve wildlie or uture generations, the person habecome a conservationist. This chapter will introduce you to the principles ourbearer management. Through urther study and experience, you can develop

the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become a true conservationist.

FWS Photo

Biologist with wolf

Responsible trappers learn

about wildlife and take action to

conserve it for future

generations

FWS Photo

Volunteer works on nest box at

a U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service refuge

Chapter 3

Furbearer Management


21/143



Identify the government agency with the authority to

manage furbearer resources and regulate trapping in

your state

State wildlie agencies have the authority and responsibility to manage ur-bearer resources and regulate trapping. Write the correct name o your statewildlie agency in the space below:

______________________________________________

Explain the difference between a renewable and a non-

renewable resource

Natural resources all into one o two categories: renewable and non-renewable. Renewable resources are living things with the capacity toregenerate. Plants and animals are renewable resources. For example, whentrees are cut down, new trees can grow there again rom seeds. Similarly,when some wild animals are harvested by people or die due to disease,predation, or starvation, the remaining animals have young and the populationincreases again. Trees and animals are resources that can be renewed as longas the habitat is available.

Non-renewable resources are non-living items that are nite and do not

regenerate themselves. Coal, oil and natural gas are examples o non-renewable resources.

Identify the components of habitat and name three

types of habitats used by furbearers

Wildlie habitat is made up o ood, water, cover, and space. Each species owild animal needs certain kinds o ood and cover. Each species also needs acertain amount o space, or habitat, to provide or its needs.

The quality and quantity o habitat in an area aects the number o speciespresent, and the population level o each species.

Each species o wild animal is associated with a certain kind o habitat.Wetlands, orests, grasslands, and arms are common types o habitat used byurbearers.

Arrangement is an important characteristic o habitat. When habitat types aremixed, the area will generally support more species and higher populations owildlie.

State agencies have the legisla-

tive authority to manage wildlife

on behalf of the public


Trees, like wildlife,

are renewable

FWS Photo

Oil is a non-renewable

resource

FWS Phot

Beaver lodge - habitat


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Chapter 3


20 Chapter 3

Identify two key concepts of sustainable management of

wildlife resources

Native wildlie populations are natural resources - biological wealth - that mustbe sustained and managed or the benet o present and uture generations opeople.

Wildlie biologists ocus on protecting, preserving, and improving habitats andecosystems. It is important to understand that biologists also ocus on maintaining sustainable populations o wildlie, not individual animals.

Most species o wildlie, including urbearers, have short lie spans. In the longterm, individual animals do not endure, but populations do.

Sustainable management o urbearer populations depends upon these two keyconcepts:

Afocusonhabitat

Afocusonthefurbearerpopulation

Name three principles that are applied in the harvest of

wild animals in North AmericaBiologistsgenerallylookforthreerequirementsbeforeallowingtheharvestof

wild animals:

Thespeciesisnotthreatenedorendangered

Theharvesttechniquesareacceptable

Killingtheanimalsservesapracticalpurpose

Identify the major factors that affect wildlife populations

Furbearer populations change over time. Populations are highest ater theyoung are born each year. Some animals die due to weather, ood supplies,

diseases, and predation, so the number o animals declines until more are bornthe ollowing year. Animal populations also change over longer periods o timeusually due to changes in the quantity and quality o habitat.

Many wild animals, including urbearers, produce a lot o young. A ew ani-

FWS Photo

Biologist tracking wildlife


Millions of Americans hunt and

trap


23/143



mals can quickly populate an area o suitable habitat. River otters provide one

example. In many states river otters were extirpated long ago due to habitatdestruction and unregulated killing. In recent years, some river otter habitat

hasbeenrestored.Biologistsandtrapperscapturedriverottersinstateswherethe populations were high, and released a ew in the restored areas. Within ashort time, the otter populations expanded to ll the available habitat.

The number o animals a given area can support throughout the year is knownas its biological carrying capacity. Limiting actors determine what thebiological carrying capacity will be. Food is a common limiting actor. Water,

shelter, space, disease, and predation are other types o limiting actors biolo-gists must monitor.

Over the course o many years urbearer populations may decline a lot morethan normal due to catastrophic events. Examples include habitat destructionsuch as orest res, extreme weather such as blizzards, and diseases such asrabies. I a ew animals survive, the population is capable o recovering when

conditionsreturntonormal.Duringthesetimes,biologistsmayrestrict

harvest and take other actions to help the animals or the habitat.

Explain the difference between managing furbearers for

compensatory mortality and additive mortality

Biologistsconsiderseveralfactorswhensettingmanagementgoalsforeachurbearer species. Two o these actors include the biological carryingcapacityofthehabitat,andtheculturalcarryingcapacity.Biologicalcarrying

capacity reers to the number o animals the habitat can support. Cultural car-rying capacity reers to the number o animals that society will accept, whichmay be a lower level than the biological carrying capacity.

Under normal conditions urbearers produce a surplus o young. Wildlie

managers can set seasons, bag limits and trapping methods to allow part otheannualsurplustobeharvested.Biologistsmanageforcompensatory

mortality by substituting regulated trapping or other mortality actors thatwould otherwise reduce the population. When managing or compensatorymortality, trapping does not aect the overall population that survives untilspring. I trapping did not occur, a similar number o animals would be lostdue to limiting actors, such as a lack o ood or shelter. The population levelis determined by the biological carrying capacity o the habitat.

While some urbearer populations can change dramatically, most populationsbecome stable when their population reaches the biological carrying capacity.Insomeareashighfurbearerpopulationscancausemajorproblems.Beaver,

or example, may ood arm elds and roads, or interere with city water

Habitat destruction leads to long

term declines in wildlife

populations

Extirpated means that a spe-

cies no longer exists in a range

where it once lived. It does not

mean that a species is extinct.

Eyewire.com

Working together, biologists and

trappers have restored river

otter populations to much of

their former range

Major Factors that AffectWildlife Populations

Changes in habitat

Carrying capacity

Limiting Factors such as

food, weather, & predation

Extinction means a species is

no longer found anywhere.

Passenger pigeons, for

example, are extinct.

Wildlife agencies and support-

ers have restored many

species that were once extir-

pated from entire states. River

otters, sher, and beaver are

furbearers that were extirpated

from many states and later

restored.


24/143

Chapter 3


22 Chapter 3

supply systems. When urbearer populations cause too many problems, biolo

gists may decide to reduce the numbers below the areas biological carryingcapacity. In this case, biologists are managing or additive mortality to bring the

population down to its cultural carrying capacity.

Identify regulated trapping as the most efcient and prac-

tical means available to accomplish regular furbearer

population reductions

Regulated trapping is an important part o wildlie management programs.The regulated use o the urbearer resource is not only acceptable but in somecases has signicant benets. When urbearer populations cause conicts with

people, or with other wildlie species and habitats, biologists may adjust trapping regulations to increase the harvest and reduce the population. Regulatedtrapping is the most efcient and practical means available to reduce urbearepopulations and it does so at no cost to the public.

While urbearer population reduction is not a goal or all urbearer managemenprograms, population reduction in specic areas can be benecial. Furbearerpopulation control can reduce the number o urbearer problems with peoplelower predation on rare, threatened, or endangered species; or reduce damageto habitats and property.

Identify situations where trapping is used to directly

manage wildlife

Regulated trapping helps manage wildlie and habitats. Trapping is used to protect many rare and endangered species o plants and animals, wetland habitatsand personal property. Regulated trapping is also used or localized diseasecontrol, wildlie research, and wildlie restoration.

In 1997 the U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service (FWS) reported trapping was used

on 487 management projects at 281 National Wildlie Reuges.

The case o the piping plover, a beach nesting bird, is a good example. The piping plover is a threatened shorebird protected by the United States and CanadaFoxes, raccoons, mink, and striped skunks prey on piping plovers when theynest. The U.S. Fish and Wildlie Service uses trapping in and around piping

plover habitat to reduce local populations o these predators. Some o the otherare species protected by trapping programs include pink lady slippers, pitcheplants, the desert tortoise, sea turtles, Attwaters prairie chickens, brown peli-cans, least terns, and black-ooted errets.

USDA Photo

Beaver damage

FWS Photo

FWS employee sets

trap for problem beaver

Wildlife populations are usually

highest in the spring after young

have been born.


25/143



Beaver,muskrats,coyotes,raccoons,opossums,redfoxes,mink,andother

animals are oten trapped to protect local habitats and personal property.Traps are the only efcient and practical tool that can be used to remove these

animals.

Explain the three major issues related to furbearer

management

Three major issues aect the conservation and management o urbearers.

These include:

Humanpopulationgrowth,whichdegradesanddestroyshabitat

Publicintoleranceoffurbearers

Oppositiontoanyuseofwildlifebyanimalrightsgroups

Humanpopulationgrowthcausesthelossoffurbearerhabitat.Therangeof

somefurbearerpopulationshasalreadybeenreduced.Habitatdestructionhas

eliminated the possibility o restoring some urbearing species to areas theyonce inhabited. Unlike habitat destruction, regulated trapping is a sustain-able use o urbearers. Trapping does not threaten the continued existence ourbearer populations.

Public intolerance o urbearers is another issue. As wildlie habitat contin-ues to be split up by development, biologists are aced with new challenges.

Examples include coyotes killing pets, beavers cutting landscape trees orooding roadways, raccoons invading homes, and human health threats romdiseases such as rabies. These problems are highly publicized and they makesome people want to lower or eliminate urbearer populations. As a result,nuisance animal trapping has become a growth industry. This concerns bi-ologists because it shows increasing numbers o people view urbearers asproblems that should be destroyed, instead o valued resources that should beconserved and used.

Animal rights activists reect a dierent view, which goes against traditionalvalues o using animals or ood, clothing, and other purposes. Activists wantto eliminate all trapping and stop managing urbearers. I animal rights activ-ists are successul people will have ewer options or solving urbearer prob-lems. Additionally, people could not use urbearers the way they do now.

USDA Phot

Predator trapping has helped

the endangered California Least

Tern recover from near

extinction

FWS Phot

Wildlife biologists face

challenges:

Human population

Public intolerance for

furbearers in populated areas

Opposition to sound

management by animal rights

groups

The U.S. Department of Agri-

culture has a Wildlife Services

Program to manage damage,

minimize wildlife threats to pub-

lic health, resolve conicts with

wildlife in urban areas, protect

property, protect endangered

species, and preserve natu-

ral resources. Trapping is an

essential tool used by Wildlife

Services employees.


26/143

Chapter 3


24 Chapter 3

Identify two funding sources for furbearer management

programs

Huntersandtrappersprovidemostofthemoneyforwildlifemanagementpro-grams. The two major sources o unding include:

Huntingandtrappinglicenserevenue

Excisetaxesonrearms,ammunitionandarcheryequipment

Huntingandtrappinglicensesaresoldbystatesandprovidedirectrevenuefo

urbearer management. Excise taxes on equipment are distributed by the U.S

FishandWildlifeServiceundertheDivisionofFederalAssistanceinWild-

lie Restoration Act. Wildlie Restoration dollars, sometimes more than $200million a year, are distributed to all 50 states, territories, and Puerto Rico orapproved programs that involve wildlie research, management, land purchasesand education.

FWS Photo

Activists oppose shing,

hunting, and trapping

Excise taxes are collected on

rearms, ammunition, and

archery equipment to support

wildlife management programs


27/143



28/143

26 Chapter 4

Content Standard -Students demonstrate the ability to understand,

support, and comply with trapping regulations

Introduction

Biologistsusehuntingandtrappingregulationstomanageandconserve

wildlie. When an animal population is low or endangered, regulations can beused to protect the species. When an animal population is high, biologists canallow more harvest, using the principle o additive mortality. I the populationo a species is high enough to cause problems biologists may lengthen theseason, raise bag limits, or allow additional methods o harvest so the popula-tion can be lowered to an acceptable level.

Huntingandtrappingregulationsarealsousedtoenhancehumanhealthand

saety; protect habitat, property, and domestic animals; require the use oselective trapping methods; and meet public expectations or animal welare.

Most states have a process or setting regulations that allows or publicparticipation.Hunters,trappers,landowners,organizations,andgovernment

agencies can participate in the regulation setting process.

As a responsible trapper, you must ollow all regulations. I you disagree with

a regulation you should participate in the regulation setting process.

Each state has law enorcement ofcers dedicated to enorcement o huntingand trapping regulations. They may be known as wildlie ofcers, conserva-tion agents, or game wardens. Responsible trappers work with their local

wildlie ofcers and help develop mutual respect or the role each serves inwildlie conservation. When landowners have urbearer control problemswildlie ofcers oten reer them to responsible trappers they know and trust.

Identify two specic places to obtain current trapping

regulations

Each state wildlie agency publishes a brochure that explains current huntingand trapping regulations. A copy o this brochure should have been given to

Wildlife ofcers have an impor-tant job. Ofcers strictly enforce

trapping regulations. They

may also help teach trapper

education courses and work on

nuisance animal complaints.

Chapter 4

Trapping Regulations


29/143



you with your trapper education manual.

Since trapping regulations may change each year you need to obtain a new

copy o the regulations when you renew your trapping license. The most com-mon place to nd the brochures is at the location where you purchase yourlicense. You may also obtain the regulations by writing, calling, or visiting awildlie agency ofce. In addition, most states publish hunting and trappingregulations on their Web site.

In the space below write down two specic places where you can

obtain trapping regulations or your state.

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

In the space below write down the Web site address or your state sh andwildlie agency.

_________________________________________________________

Explain the process for setting or changing trapping

regulations in your state

In the space provided outline the process used to set trapping regulations

in your state. Obtain this inormation rom your instructor or your wildlieagency.

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Flexible trapping regulations

allow biologists to use trapping

as a tool of wildlife

management

It is your responsibility to knowthe trapping regulations. Igno-

rance of the law is no excuse if

you are charged with a trapping

violation.


Trappers work with wildlife

agencies to improve regulations


30/143

Chapter 4


28 Chapter 4

Explain conditions that could lead to changes in

trapping regulations

Furbearerpopulationsriseorfall

Trappingtechnologyimproves

Thenumberoftrappersrisesorfalls

Habitatchanges

Nuisanceanimalproblemsincrease

Publicattitudeschange

Rareorendangeredspeciesneedprotectionfromfurbearers

Demonstrate the use of your current state regulation

brochures to nd trapping seasons, legal trap types,legal trap sets, and tagging requirements for common

furbearers

Choose two common urbearers and use your states current regulation bro-chure to ll in the inormation in the ollowing table.

Furbearer

Season

Legal Traps

Legal Sets

Tagging

Requirements

Demonstrate the use of your states regulation brochureto nd requirements regarding permission to trap on

private property

Requirements regarding permission to trap vary rom state to state. A respon-sible trapper always obtains permission rom the landowner.

In the space that ollows write down the trapping permission requirements oryour state. Use your states regulation brochure to nd this inormation.

Ohio DOW Photo

When furbearers are too abun-

dant, biologists can reducerestrictions on trapping

When furbearers are too scarce,

biologists can shorten seasons

or take other steps to allow the

population to increase

Some states require

trappers to tag traps with the

owners name and address

Ohio Dow Photo

Trapping License & Tags


31/143



_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Demonstrate use of current state trapping regulations to

determine legal restrictions for trapping nuisance

animals

State wildlie agencies may authorize landowners or specially licensed trap-pers to remove nuisance animals that damage crops, livestock, or property.Use your states regulation brochure to nd the ollowing inormation andwrite it in the space provided:

Underwhatconditionscannuisanceanimalsbetrappedorremoved?

Whomaytrapnuisanceanimals?

Whatspeciallicensesortrainingisrequired?

Whatrecordkeepingandreportingisrequired?

Whattypeoffeesmaybecharged?

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Ohio DOW Photo

Treat landowners

with respect

Always ask for

permission before trapping on

private land

Try to handle nuisance furbeare

problems during trapping sea-

son when the pelts are prime


32/143

Chapter 4


30 Chapter 4

State the maximum penalties for trapping out of season,

trapping without a license, trapping without permission,

and trapping protected animals

Violations o a states hunting and trapping regulations are criminal oenses.Conservation ofcers and judges recognize the dierence between an unin-tentional violation and willul intentions to poach animals out o season or byillegal means. Ignorance o hunting and trapping laws is not an excuse.

Huntersandtrappersareexpectedtoknowtheregulationsandfollowthem.

Upon conviction o hunting or trapping violations, a judge may impose nesorjailtime.Huntersandtrappersconvictedofseriousviolationsmayhave

traps, rearms, and even vehicles conscated by the court. Judges can also

revoke licenses and suspend a persons privilege to hunt or trap in the uture.

Using your states regulation brochure, write down the maximum penaltiesor violating state trapping laws in the space provided.

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Explain the process for reporting wildlife violations

As a trapper, you may learn about hunting or trapping violations that need tobe stopped. Never conront a violator or get directly involved without an o-cer present. Instead, observe the situation and quickly report it to your localwildlie ofcer. Provide descriptions o the violators, vehicles, license platenumbers, locations, and times.

Most states have established programs to stop poaching with toll-ree tele-phone numbers to call when you need to report a violation. These programs

gobynamessuchasTIPwhichstandsforTurnInaPoacher.Manystatesprovide rewards or inormation that leads to the arrest and conviction oviolators. Callers can remain anonymous.

FWS Photo

Federal agent with conscated

furs

Regulations concerning posses-

sion of furs during the closed

season vary widely. Make cer-

tain you know the laws for your

state!

Penalties

Fines & Jail time

Loss of Equipment

License Revocation

Public Shame

Criminal Record

Loss of Respect

Most states have toll-free num-

bers where you can report

violations


33/143



Write the phone numbers o local wildlie ofces and your states TIP pro-

gram in the space below:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Describetheprocessforreportingawildlifeviolationinthespace

below:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________


Poaching is a crime!

Protect wildlife resources and

the heritage of trapping by

turning in poachers


34/143

32 Chapter 3

Content Standard -Students understand Best Management Prac-

tices for Trapping are needed to address animal welfare, trapping

efciency, selectivity, and safety in furbearer management programs

Introduction

In 1996, the International Association o Fishand Wildlie Agencies began a program todevelopBestManagementPractices(BMPs)

or trapping as a way to improve the welare ocaptured animals, and to document improve-ments in trapping technology. This project isone o the most ambitious in the history o the

conservation movement.

BMPsarenecessarytosustainregulatedtrap-ping as a wildlie management tool, and to maintain the integrity o wildlieconservation programs throughout the United States.

State the name of the organization that coordinates

development of best management practices for trapping

The International Association o Fish and Wildlie Agencies (IAFWA) coordi-

natesthedevelopmentofBMPsfortrapping.IAFWAsmembershipincludes

all 50 state sh and wildlie management agencies, ederal agencies, andconservation organizations.

State urbearer biologists, veterinarians, trappers, and scientists rom theUniversity o Georgia and the University o Wyoming cooperated on thedevelopmentofBMPs.TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofAgricultureprovid-edmostofthefundingforTrappingBMPresearchanddevelopment.

Trapping BMPs

Sustaining the Future of

Trapping

Eyewire.com

Raccoon

All 50 state sh and wildlifeagencies support the devel-

opment of best management

practices

32 state sh and wildlife agen-

cies have been actively

involved with the BMP program

Trappers, veterinarians, and

university researchers helped

wildlife agencies evaluate more

than 70 types of traps

Chapter 5

BestManagementPractices


35/143



Explain that BMPs are based on scientic information

and professional experience about current traps and

trapping technology

BMPsarebasedonthemostextensiveresearcheortofanimaltrapsever

conducted in the United States. Traps tested were selected based on knowl-edge o commonly used traps, previous research, and input rom expert trap-pers.

Recognize that the Trapping BMP Project is designed to

provide wildlife management professionals in the United

States with the data necessary to assist in improve-

ments to animal welfare in trapping programs

TrappingBMPsweredevelopedtogivewildlifeprofessionalsinformation

they need to improve animal welare. State sh and wildlie agencies will

useBMPstocontinuetheimprovementoftrappingsystemsthroughoutthe

United States.

Recognize that trapping BMPs are intended to be a

practical tool for trappers and wildlife biologists to use

for decision-making in the eld

TrappingBMPsincludesuggestionsonpractices,equipment,andtechniques

that will provide trappers and wildlie biologists with practical inormation

to use in the eld. These suggestions will improve animal welare, help avoidthe unintended capture o other animals, and increase public support ortrapping,

Identify BMP criteria for the evaluation of trapping

devices including animal welfare, efciency, selectivity,practicality, and safety

BMPtrapswereevaluatedusingcriteriatomeasuretheeectsonanimalwel-are as well as trapping efciency, selectivity, practicality, and saety.

Animal Welfare - Researchers tested live restraining traps or injuries tourbearers using two methods. One system evaluated specic injuries, and theothergroupedtheinjuriesintocategoriesfrommildtosevere.BMPapproved

traps must have a low rate o injuries to the urbearing animals being studied.

Wildlife veterinarians examined

thousands of trapped furbearers

for different types of injuries

Eyewire.com

More than 150 teams of

trappers and technicians

participated in eld testing

Each state wildlife agency

decides how to incorporate Best

Management Practices into

trapper education and

furbearer management

programs

BMPs are valuable tools for

biologists and trappers

BMP recommended traps

resulted in no, little, or moder-

ate injury to at least 70% of the

animals trapped

Traps that failed to capture and

hold at least 60% of the spe-

cies targeted did not qualify for

recommendation


36/143

Chapter 5

BestManagementPractices

34 Chapter 5

Recommended traps resulted in moderate, low, or no injury to at least 70% o

the animals trapped.

Efciency -TrapsmeetingBMPcriteriamustbeabletocaptureandholdatleast 60% o the urbearers that spring the trap.

Selectivity - Traps must be set and used in a ashion that limits the risk ocapturing non-urbearing species while increasing the chances o capturingthe desired urbearer.

Practicality - Each recommended live restraining trap was evaluated byexperienced trappers and wildlie biologists or practicality. Criteria usedto measure practicality include cost, ease o use, ease o transport, storage,

weight and size, reliability, versatility, and the expected lie-span o the trap.

Safety - Each recommended live restraining trap was evaluated or saety tothe user and other people who might come into contact with the trap.

Identify where to nd detailed BMP information for each

furbearer

StateshandwildlifeagencieshaveaccesstoTrappingBMPpublications

as they are developed. Trappers can nd all current inormation on Trapping

BMPsatthefollowingWebsite:

http://www.furbearermgmt.org

The Furbearer Management Web site is maintained by the International As-sociation o Fish and Wildlie Agencies on behal o state sh and wildlieagencies, trappers, and trapping organizations.

Traps and sets must be selec-

tive

Experienced trappers evaluated

cost, ease of use, trap weight,

reliability, and other factors

Eyewire.com

Canada Lynx

As new BMP information is pub-

lished it is distributed by wildlife

agencies, IAFWA, and trapping

associations in print and online


37/143



38/143

36 Chapter 6

Content Standard -Students demonstrate the ability to identify types

of traps, prepare traps for use, and safely operate traps

Introduction

Some o the traps described in this chapter may not be legal to use in yourstate. Regulations vary rom state to state, and rom year to year within states.Knowtheregulationsforyourstate,andfollowthem.

Identify traps as kill-type or live-restraining devices

Some traps are designed to kill urbearers. The most common kill trap is abody-gripping trap, also known as a Conibear type trap. State regulationsplace limits on trap sizes, and locations where sets can be made.

Live-restraining traps are designed to capture an animal alive and unharmed.The most common live-restraining traps include oothold traps, cabledevices, and cage traps. These traps allow you to release non-target animals.

You will also learn how to make submersion sets using oothold traps. Theproper use o submersion trapping techniques results in the death o aurbearer.

Identify live-restraining traps, including long-spring and

coil-spring foothold traps, guarded traps, enclosedfoothold traps, and cable devices

The most common types o oothold traps include long-spring and coil-springtraps. Foothold traps come in various sizes and strengths, each o which isappropriate or one or more specic species o urbearers. At one time trap-

pers also used underspring traps, but this style has not been manuactured ormany years.

Legal traps vary from state to

state. Trapping regulations may

change each year within a state.

Joe Goodman

Kill-Type Body-gripping Trap

Live-restraining long-spring with

plain jaws

Live-Restraining Double

Long-spring Foothold Trap

Chapter 6

Traps


39/143



Advantages o oothold traps include versatility, small size, and the ability to

release animals. Foothold traps and cable devices are the most reliable trapsor coyotes, red ox, and gray ox.

Long-spring traps are the oldest type o oothold traps. Single long-springtraps are best suited or small animals like mink and muskrat. Long-springtrapsareheavierthancoil-springs.Doublelong-springsareabetterchoicefor

water sets made or large animals such as beaver.

Guarded oothold traps are used where kill-type traps are not suitable or

capturing muskrats in shallow water. The spring-loaded guard restricts ananimals movement making it less likely they will twist ree or injure them-selves trying to get out. It is better to use small kill-type traps, or ootholds in

a submersion set, or trapping muskrats.

Coil-springs are the astest kind o oothold trap. They work well in land setsor ox and coyote because o the coil-springs speed, strength, and compactsize.

Enclosedfootholdtrapsaredesignedtocatchraccoonsandopossums.Brand

namesincludeEGG,Duers,andLilGriztraps.Thesedesigns

almost eliminate non-target catches because raccoons or opossums must reachthrough a small opening to trigger the trap.

TrapperssetEGGandDuerstrapspringsathome,notintheeld.Initial set construction is aster with these traps than standard ootholds, butthey take longer to reset because they must be disassembled to remove the

animal and reset the springs.

Coil-spring activated cable devices, which are not legal in Arkansas, areanotherkindoffootholddevice.Thesetrapsuse1/8cablesetinaloop

triggered by two quick-release springs. A stop lock is used to keep thecable rom closing below a certain diameter. The stop lock allows smallernon-target animals to escape. Cables used on these traps may need to bereplaced requently due to kinking or other damage.

Identify jaw frame characteristics and modications

including plain jaws, padded jaws, offset jaws, double

jaws, and laminated or wide jaws

SeveralBMPtrapsareidentiedbyjawframecharacteristicsandmodica-tions. Padded oothold traps have rubber pads on the jaws. Some ootholdtraps use oset jaws. The oset creates a space between the gripping sur-

faceswhenthejawsareclosed.Theosetrangesfrom1/8to1/4inch.


Guarded Foothold Trap

Joe Goodma

Coil-spring Padded Foothold

Trap

EGG Trap

Spring-activated Cable Device


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Chapter 6

Traps

38 Chapter 6

Doublejawtrapsusetwometalframesinsteadofone.Onesetofjawsis

smaller, and these are inside o the regular jaws.

Laminated (wide) jaws are another option that can increase efciency andreduce injuries. Lamination is normally added by welding an additional strip o

metal to the top or the bottom o the jaw that sits perectly ush with the original jaw. Some trappers also use double lamination, welding one strip above,and one below the jaw. Lamination expands the jaw thickness and increases the

amount o surace area holding the animals oot.

Know that foothold traps can be used in submersion sets

for muskrats, mink, river otters, nutria, and beaver

Footholdtrapsaregenerallyclassiedaslive-restrainingtraps.However,

oothold traps can be used in submersion sets to ensure death. To make a

submersionset,useslide-wiredrowners,whichconsistofalengthofaircraft

cable(3/32or1/8),orstrongwire(11or12gauge),withaone-wayslid-ing lock. One end o the cable is staked near shore where the trap is set. Theotherendofthecableisstakedoranchoredindeepwater(minimum24

deepformuskratsand42deepforbeaver).Theone-wayslidinglockallows

the animal to swim toward deeper water, but not back to shore. The weighto the trap orces it to submerge. Another option or muskrat trapping is tostake the trap in deep water. The weight o a long-spring trap will submergea muskrat.

Texas Parks and Wildlife

Gray fox in foothold trap

Joe Goodman

Laminated trap jaws


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Advantages o using submersion sets include:

Ensuresdeathoftrappedanimals

Fewerescapesandlesspeltdamage

Lesschanceoftraporfurtheft

Lessdisturbanceattheset

Disadvantagesofusingsubmersionsetsinclude:

Initialcostishigher

Takesmoretimetomaketheset

Identify kill-type devices including body-gripping traps

The most common kill-type devices are body-gripping traps, also knownas Conibear traps. Conibear is the name o the inventor. When an animal

triggers a body-gripping trap, two rotating jaws close on the animals neck orchest.Body-grippingtrapsaregenerallyusedinwatersetsformink,muskrat,

and beaver. States normally restrict the use o body-gripping traps on land tothe smaller sizes. These traps must be used with caution, especially on land,to prevent the capture and death o non-target species.

Larger body-gripping traps can pose a risk to a careless trapper. It is bestto use the buddy system when trapping, especially i you are using large


Muskrat Trappers


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Chapter 6

Traps

40 Chapter 6

body-gripping traps. I you accidentally spring one on your hand or arm it

can be difcult to release the trap. You can use a rope with a loop in one endto ree yoursel as described in other parts o this manual.

Identify live-restraining cage traps and kill-type colony

traps for use in submersion sets

Cage traps may be difcult to use because o their size. Raccoons, skunks,opossums, sher, and weasels can be caught in cage traps. Fox and coyotes mayavoid cage traps. I you need to trap near buildings or in areas used by pets cagetraps are a good choice.

Submarine or colony traps are a type o cage trap designed to be used in submersion sets or muskrats and mink. It is called a colony trap because you can

catch an entire amily, or colony, o muskrats at one time. Check regulationsbeore using a colony trap in your state.

Identify non-powered cable devices, powered cable

devices, relaxing locks, and non-relaxing locks

Non-powered cable devices consist o a cable, a lock, and a swivel. These

devices catch animals by the neck or body. A cable device should be equippedwith a swivel, and set in an area where a restrained urbearer will not entangleit on brush, ences or saplings. Larger urbearers such as beaver, ox, andcoyote can be caught with cable devices. Use cable devices cautiously sincetheycouldholdlivestock,deer,orotheranimals.Trapperscanuseastopon

the cable that restricts the loop rom closing below a certain diameter, allowingnon-targetanimalstogetout.Theuseofabreak-awaylocksystemallows

larger animals, such as deer, to break the device loose and go ree.

Relaxing locks move in both directions on a cable. Non-relaxing locks onlyslide in one direction. I an animal pulls against the cable it gets tighter and wil

not release.

Powered cable devices are used to catch animals by the oot. The cable loopis mounted on a device that looks similar to a oothold trap. When the ani-mal steps on the pan, it trips v-shaped coil-springs similar to those ound onbody-gripping traps. The cable loop has a stop to prevent it rom closing be-

low a certain size, so that small animals will escape. Although relatively new,this trap has been tested and approved or use in trapping Eastern coyotes aspartoftheBMPtraptestingproject.

Joe Goodman

Body-gripping traps should be

set to close from top to bottom

to work properly

Live-restraining cage trap

Kill-type submarine or

colony trap

Massachusetts Div Fisheries and Wildlife

Biologist with Hancock Trap - a

large live-trap for beaver


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Another powered cable device uses springs to kill an animal by making the

cable close tight around the neck or body (illegal in Arkansas).

Identify trap anchoring systems including single stakes,

cross stakes, earth anchors, drags, grapples, and

springs

Traps must be attached to something to hold an animal. Normally a chain is

attached to a oothold trap. Trappers can use several methods to secure thechain to a stake or another object. Stakes are normally made o metal and areused to secure the chain to the ground. A stake needs to be long enough tohold the largest animal that might be caught. Under most conditions stakes

should be 18-24 inches in length. Even longer stakes are needed in sandysoils. Fox and coyotes require a more secure method to keep the captured ani-mal rom pulling the stake out. Trappers use a cross-staking method or thesestronger animals. I the stakes do not hold well, you must nd a new placeto make your set. You must not let an animal escape with a trap on its oot

because it will cause injury.

Some trappers use earth anchors, attached to a cable which is driven into theground with a tool. Earth anchors are very strong, and need to be dug out othe ground when you remove the set.

Trapscanbeattachedtodragsinsomesets.Dragsallowananimaltomove

ashortdistance.Heavytreelimbsareacommontypeofdrag.Grapplesare

metal devices secured to traps with chains. Grapples work like drags, butthey are not as heavy. The shape o the metal grapple causes it to dig into theground or vegetation, restricting the urbearers movement.

Shock springs can be used in combination with chains, stakes, drags, andgrapples. One or two shock springs can be used to help hold animals, such ascoyotes, that have a habit o lunging when trapped.

Explain how swivels are used and why they are

important

A variety o good swivels are needed or quality sets that catch and holdcertain urbearers. Swivels reduce the chance o injury by allowing a trap to

move reely in the same direction as the animals oot.

Lap-link swivels, stake swivels, and universal swivels can be used to asten achain to a stake. When two stakes are needed trappers use a special cross-

Joe Goodma

Cable Device

Stakes

Earth Anchor


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Chapter 6

Traps

42 Chapter 6

staking swivel.

Universal swivels can be used in the middle o chains. Four-way swivel is an-

other name or a universal swivel. A universal swivel is also used to attach thechain to a trap at the center o the base-plate.

S-hooks are used on some swivels. A special s-hook tool can be used to closethe hook without damaging it. Coyote trappers weld the connection to keep irom pulling open.

Swivels o various types, including universal swivels, are also used in combination with sliding locks in submersion sets.

Always use the highest quality swivels in your trap systems to prevent an ani-mal rom escaping or being injured. The proper use o swivels is an importanpart o responsible trapping.

Demonstrate methods of measuring jaw spread at dog

and jaw spread at hinge posts

There is no standardized way o determining a traps measurements using

manufacturerdesignationssuchasNo.2coil-spring.Tondtrapsthatmeet

jawspreadmeasurementsforBMPsorstateregulationsyoumayneedtocheck

jaw spread in two places: at the jaw, and at the hinge posts.

You can take these two measurements by setting the trap. Careully measurethe inside spread o the jaw rame at its widest point along the line rom thedog to the opposite side. Then measure the width between the two jawswhere they connect to the hinge posts. You may nd slight dierences in jawspread measurements on the same make and model o traps.

Joe Goodman

Cross-staking

Double Long-spring

From Missouri Cable Restraint Training Manual.

Copyright 2004 by the Conservation Commission of

the State of Missouri. Used with permission.

End Swivel

From Missouri Cable Restraint Training Manual.

Copyright 2004 by the Conservation Commission of

the State of Missouri. Used with permission.

End Swivel with Box Swivel


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Demonstrate trap-tuning procedures including the

abilities to le a trap jaw to remove sharp edges, level

trap pans, adjust pan tension, and adjust the pan throw

New traps require some minor adjustments to operate most efciently. Whenyoumaketheseadjustmentsitiscalledtraptuning.Youalsoneedtoinspect

and tune your traps beore the start o each season.

Joe Goodman

When the trap is set the trap pan should be level with the jaws. I the panrests too high or too low you will need to bend the rame in or out below

thedog.Benditouttoraisethepan.Benditintolowerthepan.

Pan tension is another adjustment. It is measured by the amount o weightit takes on the trap pan to re the trap. Most new traps have pan tensionadjustment screws. When trapping larger animals, increase the tension so

that smaller species will not trigger the trap. For example, two pounds opan tension is a good setting or ox. You can purchase a commercial test-ing device to measure pan tension. You can also use a tennis ball can, liquidsoap container, or PVC pipe lled with the weight o sand that matchesyour desired tension. Pan throw is another adjustment. Pan throw is the dis-tance the pan must be depressed to re the trap. Use a shorter pan throwwhen tuning a trap or high pan tension. To adjust the pan throw, you lesome metal o the end o the notch where the dog ts. This notch deter-

mines how ar the pan must drop beore the trap will re.

Use a le to make certain the end o the dog and the notch in the trap pan aresquared o. I the dog or the notch is rounded, your trap may release tooeasily.

Body-grippingtrapsmayrequiretriggeradjustment.Ifthereistoomuch

Weak springs should be

replaced

Swivels and hooks must

be strong and operate freely

without binding

Weld the ends of trap hooks

if you are trapping coyotes

or other large animals

Use a metal le to smooth

down any sharp or roughedges on the jaws

Check chains for worn links

Make certain your traps are

tagged to comply with state

regulations

Silvertip ProductionUse weight to test pan tension

Increase pan tension by turn-

ing the pan tension screw to

the right, or clockwise. Turn the

pan tension screw to the left to

decrease pan tension.


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Chapter 6

Traps

44 Chapter 6

play in the trigger your trap may misre, or strike the animal in a poor loca-

tion. I there is a gap in the top o the trigger assembly you can crimp it witha pair o pliers or a vise until the ends are ush.

Experienced trappers adjust the shape o triggers on body-gripping traps tomakethemselectiveforcertainspeciesoffurbearers.SeeSelectiveTrapping

TechniquesChapter.

Explain the process and the purpose for cleaning,

rusting, dyeing, and waxing new traps; and why body-

gripping traps should not be waxed

New traps are shipped with a light coating o oil that needs to be removed. Pu

a nail between the jaws o each trap. Put the traps in a large wash tub and ll iwithwaterandpowderedautomaticdishwasherdetergent.Boilthetrapsinthe

soapywaterfor30minutesthenremoveandrinsethemclean.Hangthetraps

outside until a light coating o rust orms. This may take one to two weeks. Therust will help the dye bond to the metal without hurting your traps.

When your traps are lightly rusted they are ready to dye. Logwood powder ocrystals can be used to dye traps. Put your traps in a large washtub over a re oa propane cooker. I you use a commercial logwood dye ollow the directionsonthepackagefortheproperamountofwaterandlogwoodingredients.Bring

the water to a boil beore adding the logwood.

Let the traps

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