Humane Trapping

Humane trapping is the taking of furbearers with the least amount of stress to the animal. Trappers should select the most humane and efficient method possible to capture furbearers.

Canada has the most humane trapping methods in the world. To ensure continued markets for our wild-caught fur, Canada, Russia and the European Union (EU) signed the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). These factors have kept trapping an acceptable and legitimate profession to the general public.

Manitoba regulations are meeting our obligations to the AIHTS. (See the Manitoba Implementation Schedule).

What AIHTS means for Manitoba trappers:

1. AIHTS applies to almost all furbearers trapped and those trappers who trap for commercial purposes in Manitoba (see Summary charts in English, Cree, and Ojibwe).
2. Leghold Restraining Trap:
   • Modified versions include the padded, laminated and offset leghold restraining traps.
   • Manitoba wildlife regulations prohibit the use of all types of unmodified leghold traps on land.
   • All types, when used in a drowning set, will be allowed until otherwise replaced by species.
   • Leghold Power Snare is not included in the definition of a leghold trap, but is prohibited for black bear in all areas.
3. Neck Snares:
   • Power & Common Suspended: Cannot be used for black bear, but can be used under ice for beaver and in RTL and Northern Special Trapping Area. (See Summary for more information.)
   • Common Suspended: Trappers cannot use this snare to take any furbearer or wolf in Open Area Zones 1-5, except under ice for beaver.
4. Body Grip Traps: Conibear-type, rotating-jaw traps that are currently being used will start to be replaced with certified ones according to species.
5. Only those traps meeting AIHTS requirements will be allowed. If no traps are found to meet the standard, use of existing traps will be allowed while research continues.
6. The requirements for a killing trap to meet the standard are the following:
   In a compound test, the trap must render 80 per cent (10 of 12) of animals tested irreversibly unconscious within a time limit of:
• 45 seconds for weasel
• 120 seconds for marten
• 300 seconds for all other species named in the AIHTS.
7. Firearms may be used to take furbearers, black bears and timber wolves. However, the use of firearms by trappers is subject to other regulations under The Wildlife Act, The Provincial Parks Act, local municipal by-laws, and federal acts.

For more detailed information see the Manitoba Implementation Schedule and the summaries (available in English, Ojibwe and Cree.)