Humane trapping is every trapper’s responsibility. It ensures that the taking of furbearers is conducted with the least amount of stress to the target animal. All trappers have an ethical and legal responsibility to select the most humane and efficient method possible to capture furbearers.
Newfoundland and Labrador has had regulated humane trapping standards since 1985. Requirements for locking neck snares, prohibition against the use of serrated or tooth-edged traps, and drowner set requirements for aquatic species are just a few examples of humane trap standards. However, to ensure that our wild-caught furs could continue to be sold on the European markets, Canada, along with Russia and the European Union (EU) signed the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). The Agreement sets performance standards for traps used in the harvest and control of 19 furbearer species. Eight (8) of these species exist in our province. These species are beaver, ermine (weasel), coyote, lynx, marten, muskrat, otter, and wolf. The Agreement does not apply to mink, fox or squirrel.
AIHTS Advisories
- Leghold restraining traps include the modified versions (padded, laminated or offset) and the conventional steel-jawed leghold traps. The use of all unmodified leghold restraining traps is prohibited on land except for taking fox. Modified traps may continue to be used on land for taking wolf and coyote, however only certified and approved leghold restraining traps may be used for lynx as outlined in Table 1. When setting a drowner set for aquatic species, modified or conventional steel-jawed traps are permitted (see Table 3).
- There are no changes associated with neck snares.
- Killing traps are generally referred to as the conibear body-gripping trap. In Newfoundland and Labrador, only killing traps that meet AIHTS require- ments and are certified are permitted for trapping beaver, muskrat, otter, weasel and marten (see Table 1). Sufficient numbers of killing traps have not yet been certified for wolf or coyote. Until then, trappers may continue to use traps currently permitted by provincial legislation for those species.
- Trappers should note that some traps, while not yet required in legislation, have already been certified by species and should consider this when purchasing new traps (see Tables 2a and 2b).
Table 1: Killing and restraining traps certified and regulated for use
| SPECIES | |||||||
| BEAVER | -Bélisle Classique 330
-Bélisle Super X 280 -Bélisle Super X 330 -B.M.I. 280 Body Gripper -B.M.I. 330 Body Gripper -B.M.I. BT 300 |
-Bridger 330
-Duke 330 -LDL C280 -LDL C280 Magnum -LDL C330 |
-LDL C330 Magnum
-Rudy 280 -Rudy 330 -Sauvageau 1000-11F -Sauvageau 2001-8 -Sauvageau 2001-11 |
-Sauvageau 2001-12
-Species-Specific 330 Dislocator Half Mag -Species-Specific 440 Dislocator Half Mag -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 280 -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 330 |
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| CANADA LYNX | -Bélisle Super X 280
-Bélisle Super X 330 -B.M.I 220 Body Gripper -B.M.I 280 Body Gripper -B.M.I 220 Magnum Body Gripper |
-B.M.I 280 Magnum
Body Gripper -Bridger 220 -Bridger 280 Mag. Bodygripper |
-LDL C220
-LDL C220 Magnum -LDL C280 Magnum -LDL C330 -LDL C330 Magnum |
-Rudy 330
-Sauvageau 2001-8 -Sauvageau 2001-11 -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 330 |
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| MARTEN (Labrador)
Martes americana Martes martes Martes zibellina |
-Bélisle Super X 120
-Bélisle Super X 160 -B.M.I. 126 Magnum Body Gripper |
-LDL B120 Magnum
-LDL C160 Magnum -Koro no 1 -Koro no 2 |
-Northwoods 155
-Rudy 120 Magnum -Rudy 160 Plus -Sauvageau C120 Magnum |
-Sauvageau 2001-5
-Sauvageau 2001-6 -KP120 (Russia) |
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| MUSKRAT
On Land |
-Bélisle Super X 110
-Bélisle Super X 120 -B.M.I 120 Body Gripper -B.M.I 120 Body Gripper Magnum -B.M.I 126 Body Gripper Magnum -Bridger 120 -Bridger 120 Mag. Bodygripper |
Bridger 155 Mag.
Bodygripper -CONV 110 CAN (Holland) -Duke 120 -FMB 110 SS (Holland) -FMB 150 SS (Holland) |
-Koro Muskrat Trap
-Koro Large Rodent Double spring -LDL B120 -LDL B120 Magnum -Oneida Victor 120 Stainless Steel -Ouell 411-180 -Ouell RM |
-Rudy 110
-Rudy 120 -Rudy 120 Magnum -Sauvageau 2001-5 -Sauvageau C120 Magnum -Sauvageau C120 “Reverse Bend” -Triple M -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 110 -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 120 |
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| MUSKRAT
Underwater |
Any jaw type trap (body gripping or leghold) set as a submersion set that exerts clamping force on a muskrat and that maintains this animal underwater. | ||||||
| OTTER | -Bélisle Super X 220
-Bélisle Super X 280 -Bélisle Super X 330 -LDL C220 -LDL C220 Magnum -LDL C280 Magnum |
-Rudy 220 Plus
-Rudy 280 -Rudy 330 -Sauvageau 2001-8 -Sauvageau 2001-11 -Sauvageau 2001-12 |
-Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 220
-Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 280 -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 330 |
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| WEASELS | -Bélisle Super X 110
-Bélisle Super X 120 -B.M.I #60 -B.M.I 120 Body Gripper Magnum -B.M.I 126 Body Gripper Magnum |
-Bridger 120
-Bridger 120 Mag Bodygripper -Bridger 155 Mag Bodygripper -Koro Muskrat Trap -Koro Rodent Trap -Koro Large Rodent Double Spring -LDL B120 Magnum |
-Ouell 411-180
-Ouell 3-10 -Ouell RM -Rudy 120 Magnum -Sauvageau C120 Magnum -Sauvageau C120 “Reverse Bend” |
-Sauvageau 2001-5
-Triple M -Victor Rat Trap -WCS Tube Trap Int’l -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 110 -Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 120 |
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Phase 2. Year Of Implementation To Be Determined
Although the traps listed in Phase 2 are certified for the following species and trap categories, the year of entry into force of the obligation to use only AIHTS Certified traps has not yet been determined. This date, which could vary from one species to another, will be known at least 3 years in advance. Until then, traps that are currently legally permitted can still be used.
Table 2a: Restraining traps certified, mandatory effective fall 2020
| SPECIES | ||
| BEAVER
Cages |
-Comstock 12 X 18 X 39 Swin Through Beaver Cage
-Breathe Easy Live Beaver trap -Ezee Set Live Beaver Trap |
-Hancock Live Beaver Trap
-Koro “Klam” Live Beaver Trap |
| WOLF | -Bélisle Footsnare #8
-Bridger Alaskan #5 Offset and Laminated Jaws -Bridger Alaskan #5 Rubber Jaws -Livestock Protection EZ Grip No. 7 -MB 750 Alaskan OS (3/8’) |
-Oneida Victor #3 Soft Catch equipped with 4 coil springs, a minimum 8mm thick base plate and an anchoring swivel mounted on this base plate
-Rudy Red Wolf 4 ½ -Bridger Brawn no 9 Rubber Jaws |
Table 2b, Restraining traps certified , but not yet mandatory.
| COYOTE | -Bélisle Footsnare #6
-Bélisle Sélectif -Duke No 3 Rubber Jaws with an anchoring swivel centre mounted on the base plate -Oneida Victor #1.5 Soft Catch equipped with 2 coil spring -Oneida Victor #1.5 Soft Catch equipped with 4 coil spring -Oneida Victor 1.75 equipped with 3/16-inch offset, double rounded steel jaw laminations (3/16-inch on top side of jaw and ¼-inch on underside of jaws), with a 4 coil springs -Oneida Victor #3 Soft Catch equipped with 2 coil spring -Oneida Victor #3 Soft Catch equipped with 4 coil springs |
-Oneida Victor #3 equipped with 3/16-inch offset, double rounded steel jaw laminations (3/16-inch on topside of jaw and ¼-inch on underside of jaws), with 2 coil springs
-Oneida Victor #3 equipped with 3/16-inch offset, double rounded steel jaw laminations (3/16-inch on topside of jaw and ¼-inch on underside of jaws), with 4 coil springs. -Bridger #3 equipped with 5/16-inch offset, double rounded steel jaw laminations (3/16-inch on topside of jaw and ¼-inch on underside of jaws), with 4 coil springs and an anchoring swivel centre mounted on a base plate. -MB 550 Rubber Jaws equipped with 4 coil springs |
Phase 3: Year of Implementation to be determined – Cage and box traps yet to be regulated for live trapping.
As it pertains to the AIHTS, there is no live capture cage or box trap certified to date. This means that until a list of certified cage or box traps are made available, trappers may continue to use those cage or box traps as per existing provincial legislation.
Table 3: Summary of trap requirements by species – Newfoundland and Labrador.
| Species | Killing Traps (Conibear Types)
AIHTS in Effect (Yes or No) |
Conventional Steel Jawed Leg-hold Restraining Trap | Modified Leg-hold Traps | Suspended Snare |
| Beaver | YES | Drowning Set Only | Drowning Set Only | Allowed |
| Coyote | NO | Prohibited | *Allowed | Allowed |
| Fox (ALL) | NO | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed |
| Lynx | YES | Prohibited | Certified traps only | Allowed |
| Marten (Labrador) | YES | Prohibited | Prohibited | Not Applicable |
| Mink | NO | Drowning set only | Drowning set only | Not Applicable |
| Muskrat | Yes | Drowning set only | Drowning set only | Not Applicable |
| Otter | Yes | Drowning set only | Drowning set only | Allowed |
| Red Squirrel | NO | Prohibited | Prohibited | Allowed |
| Wolf | NO | Prohibited | *Allowed | Allowed |
| Weasel | Yes | Prohibited | Prohibited | Not Applicable |
* Certified trap models are given exclusive identification letters that manufacturers will have to mark on traps they manufacture after 2007. Trappers may still legally use these same trap models after the implementation of the AIHTS, regardless of whether or not they bear this mark. For example, new Woodstream Oneida Victor Conibear 330’s will have a certification number on the trap. However, trappers may continue to use the same trap model whether or not it has this number.