CC BY
02021, Scienceline Publication
Worlds Veterinary Journal
World Vet J, 11(3): 317-318, September 25, 2021
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.54203/scil.2021.wvj43
Veterinarians and Wildlife Biologists Should Join Forces to End Inhumane Mammal Trapping Technology
Gilbert Proulx
Alpha Wildlife Research & Management Ltd., 229 Lilac Terrace, Sherwood Park, Alberta, T8H1W3, Canada »Corresponding author's Email: gproulx@alphawildlife.ca; : 0000-0002-6980-8927
ABSTRACT
Current mammal trapping standards uphold the use of inhumane trapping technology. For example, killing neck snares for the capture of canids, and rotating-jaw traps, and steel-jawed leghold traps for procyonids and mustelids, are being used by trappers despite decades of research showing that they are inhumane, and cause serious injuries and distress in captured animals. Many wildlife biologists unsuccessfully raised concerns about inhumane mammal trappings. This short communication stresses the need for veterinarians and wildlife biologists to work together to improve the fate of mammals captured in killing or restraining traps, and modify mammal trapping standards on the basis of animal welfare science.
Keywords: Humaneness, Mammal trapping, Traps, Trapping standards INTRODUCTION
Trapping standards developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the 1990s, the Agreement on International Humane trapping Standards (AIHTS) in 1997, and the USA Best Management Practices (White et al., 2021) are industrial standards to save the fur industry from trade bans (Proulx et al., 2020). These are sub-standard which do not meet, and have never met, state-of-the-art trapping technology and protocols associated with animal welfare (Proulx et al., 2020).
Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans), and grey wolves (Canis lupus) are snared annually in the fur trade or predator control programs in Canada and the United States (Iossa et al., 2007). However, nearly 40 years ago, Canadian researchers assessed the "humaneness" of manual killing neck snares, where the animal provides the energy necessary to tighten the noose and strangle itself, to quickly render red foxes irreversibly unconscious. They found that they could not cut off the airflow when the snare was held tight around the trachea (FPCHT, 1981). Less than a decade later, Proulx and Barrett (1990) showed that red foxes captured in power killing neck snares, where springs provide the energy to tighten the noose on an animal's neck, did not quickly lose consciousness. Finally, Proulx (2018) monitored a working trapline with remote video cameras and showed that a coyote and a wolf lost consciousness 14 hours 16 minutes, and 3 hours 39 minutes, respectively, after being captured in a manual killing neck snare. In both cases, animals struggled intensively and frequently, cut their tongue and gums, damaged their teeth, bled, and suffered from extreme swelling of the neck and head.
Killing neck snares are only examples of traps that are allowed in North America. Despite extensive research showing that rotating jaw-traps do not have the ability to quickly kill northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) (Proulx and Drescher, 1994), these traps have been certified (e.g., the Fur Institute of Canada, 2020) or accepted as Best Management Practices (AFWA, 2014). Likewise, steel-jawed leghold traps that seriously injure animals and cause them to self-mutilate (Proulx et al., 1993; White et al., 2021) are still being used in the United States.
Inadequate Mammal Trapping Standards
It is puzzling to see that traps that have been repeatedly found unacceptable for decades are still being used to capture mammals. Also, in most countries, animal anti-cruelty legislation is blatantly inadequate for wildlife. In the past, a handful of scientists have expressed opinions against inadequate mammal trapping standards and the use of trapping devices causing unacceptable pain and suffering (Iossa et al., 2007; Proulx and Rodtka, 2017; Proulx et al., 2020). Some environmental organizations have raised concerns but most of them are readily dismissed by government agencies (White et al., 2021).
In an effort to reform mammal trapping technology, and minimize harm to animals, veterinarians should join forces with wildlife biologists (Cattet, 2013). Wildlife biologists are responsible for the professional conservation and management of wildlife species and populations, and the wellbeing of individuals (Paquet and Darimont, 2010). The list
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To cite this paper: Proulx G (2021). Veterinarians and Wildlife Biologists Should Join Forces to End Inhumane Mammal Trapping Technology. World Vet. J., 11 (3): 317318. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.54203/scil.2021.wvj43
of injuries associated with trapping devices that are technologically outdated suffices to illustrate that animal welfare groups' concerns are neither exaggerated nor overemotional. When wildlife biologists and veterinarians remain passive and do not stand against cruelty in mammal trapping, they fail to act as professionals dedicated to the sound management of wildlife populations and the wellbeing of animals.
CONCLUSION
Inadequate mammal trapping standards uphold the use of inhumane trapping technology. Both veterinarians and wildlife biologists should take the lead in examining and modifying mammal trapping standards on the basis of animal welfare science.
DECLARATION
Acknowledgments
I thank Dr. Daryoush Babazadeh and Ali Sadeghi for their comments on an earlier version of this manuscript.
Competing interests
I declare no conflict of interest.
Consent to publish
I agree with the publication of this paper.
REFERENCES
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Proulx G, Cattet M, Serfass TL, and Baker SE (2020). Updating the AIHTS trapping standards to improve animal welfare and capture efficiency and selectivity. Animals, 10: 1262. DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.3390/ANI10081262
Proulx G, Onderka DK, Kolenosky AJ, Cole PJ, Drescher RK, and Badry MJ (1993). Injuries and behavior of raccoons (Procyon lotor) captured in the Soft Catch™ and the EGGTM traps in simulated natural environments. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 29: 447-452. Available at: file:///C:/Users/Qwner/Downloads/0090-3558-29.3.447.pdf
White HB, Boggess EK, Brown CL, Butfiloski JW, Decker TA, Erb JD, Fall MW, Hamilton DA, Hiller TL, Hubert GF Jr et al. (2021). Best management practices for trapping furbearers in the United States. Wildlife Monographs, 207: 3-59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wmon.1057
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To cite this paper: Proulx G (2021). Veterinarians and Wildlife Biologists Should Join Forces to End Inhumane Mammal Trapping Technology. World Vet. J., 11 (3): 317318. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.54203/scil.2021.wvj43
