Responsible and humane harvest of furbearers is a primary objective for all trapping activities and is guided by legislation and standards of conduct that have been developed over time with input of trappers and wildlife managers. Whether your trapping pursuits involve setting snares for fox, coyote, wolf or lynx, using body grippers for mink or marten (Labrador) or using water sets for aquatic furbearers, choosing the appropriate location for your set is an important consideration to help avoid capturing animals that are not legal to trap. Similar to Best Management Practices for Newfoundland Marten (page 43-44) there are also a number of trap designs and/or adaptations to existing gear that trappers can use generally to avoid accidental and sometimes lethal capture of non-target animals.
Break-away devices such as “S” or “J” hooks placed on fox, coyote, lynx or wolf snares is an easy adaptation that trappers who build their own snares can use to potentially reduce capture of wildlife such as moose, caribou and black bears or free ranging livestock. This is achieved by adding a “J” hook to the base of a slide-lock or “S” hook to a cam type lock or by adding a breakaway release ferrule (BAW) to the end of snare. The S, J hook or BAW ferrule retains enough strength to capture the intended animal but the strength of larger animals will break the hook or breakaway ferrule and allow them to escape relatively unharmed. Purchasing snares constructed in this fashion from trapping suppliers is widely available. Adding a stop to the snare so that it is still effective for capturing furbearers but allows a moose or caribou’s leg to slip through is also beneficial. There is some variability in the cost and effectiveness of break-away devices that trappers will need to consider, particularly for larger furbearers such as wolves. The end result, however, is that these devices can make a difference towards protecting wildlife or livestock that are not meant to be captured in the first place. Learn more about their use by contacting trapping supply retailers, the Newfoundland and Labrador Trappers Association or the Wildlife Division.
“Contained” body gripper traps are very effective and, in certain circumstances, can be used to avoid non-target animals. For example, body grippers set inside baited floating wooden boxes (mink box) work very well for capturing mink over water and reduce the risk of trapping species such as the Newfoundland Marten. Body gripper traps set inside a floating mink box also make it very difficult for domestic animals to get into. Where there are no concerns for Newfoundland Marten, mink boxes set on land that have a cover with a 2 ½ inch hole also become quite effective for reducing captures of other non-target animals.
