This post was originally published by The Fur-Bearers on December 5, 2024.
Prince Edward Island’s Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability released its report on trapping after studying the issue over the past year. The report was published on November 26, 2024 and makes several recommendations on trapping and wildlife coexistence. Click here to download the report.
Background
In December 2022, a Great Pyrenees named Caspie was killed by a snare in PEI. Caspie’s death and other tragic trapping incidents galvanized a grassroots movement to end the use of traps in the province. This led to thousands of citizens signing petitions calling on the government to ban trapping and prioritize wildlife coexistence.
In response to these calls, the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability decided to study the issue of trapping over the past year. The Fur-Bearers (and Coyote Watch Canada) presented to the committee in May 2024, where they offered two recommendations: ban commercial and recreational trapping, and adopt policies and laws that prioritize human-wildlife coexistence.
The committee’s report summarizes the committee’s work around trapping and makes several recommendations to the government.
What the report says
While the committee does not recommend a ban on trapping as was called for by thousands of citizens across PEI, many recommendations signal a commitment to improve animal welfare outcomes not only for pets, but for wild animals as well. On the topic of trapping, these are the recommendations the committee made to government:
- Your committee recommends that government review legislation and regulations regarding trapping and snaring to ensure they are humane, that they are enforced properly, and appropriate education and training is provided.
- Your committee recommends that government adopt policies that incentivize and support the use of alternative wildlife management options to prioritize human-wildlife coexistence and reduce the need for trapping and snaring.
- Your committee recommends that government make available to trappers, contact details of property owners so that permission can be sought to set traps on private land.
- Your committee recommends that government require trappers to place signage within an appropriate distance of any traps or snares set on public land, as well as at commonly used entrances to the land.
- Your committee recommends government undertake public education efforts regarding human-wildlife coexistence, in particular the feeding of wildlife.
Regarding recommendation #1, The Fur-Bearers’ position is that no trap is humane. We emphasized that snares are not certified traps under the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards. Snares result in severe animal suffering for wildlife and are responsible for most of the trapping incidents involving dogs in PEI.
The Fur-Bearers strongly supports recommendations #2, #4, and #5.
While unrelated to our presentation, recommendation #3 raises privacy concerns over the disclosure of property owners’ contact information to trappers.
Recommendation made to ban glue traps
Of note, the committee also studied the issue of glue traps separately and made recommendations to the province in this report. Its recommendation reads:
- Your committee recommends government institute a ban on the sale, purchase and use of glue traps in Prince Edward Island.
The Fur-Bearers strongly supports a ban on the sale and use of glue traps. This recommendation comes just months after municipalities in British Columbia voted to request the government ban glue traps across the province. From one coast of Canada to the other, glue traps are firmly recognized as inhumane and cruel.
Next steps
The Fur-Bearers will work with partner organizations and local citizens to ensure key recommendations are implemented by the province. We want to express our gratitude to all the citizens and animal advocates in PEI working tirelessly for change, and to our friends at Coyote Watch Canada and the Beaver Institute who also presented for the committee.
The Fur-Bearers thanks the committee for inviting us to present on this topic and for taking steps to improve animal welfare outcomes for both wild and domestic animals. While we maintain that commercial and recreational trapping has no place in PEI given its documented risks and harms, we commend the committee in recognizing the importance of incorporating animal welfare in provincial wildlife policy and taking steps forward to promote coexistence with wildlife.
Read The Fur-Bearers' original post in a new window by clicking here.
