Trapping

Trapping furbearing animals was once a full-time occupation. Today, regulated trapping is an important tool for managing our nation's natural resources.

• Trapping helps control animal populations by minimizing starvation, reducing spread of disease, and controlling habitat damage or destruction.
• Trapping helps protect personal property by preventing or decreasing:
  • Flooding caused by beaver dams
  • Damage to homes, trees, gardens, and agricultural crops
  • Killing of livestock or pets
• Trapping protects certain endangered or threatened species from predatory furbearers.

Trapper’s Code of Ethics

When used properly, trapping can be an alternative method to hunting for harvesting furbearers and an effective tool for wildlife management. Trappers should learn about the type of traps appropriate for the animal they're seeking and follow the trapper's code of ethics:

• Respect the other trapper’s “grounds”—particularly brushed, maintained traplines with a history of use.
• Check traps regularly.
• Promote trapping methods that will reduce the possibility of catching non-target animals.
• Obtain landowners’ permission before trapping on private property.
• Know and use proper releasing and killing methods.
• Develop set location methods to prevent losses.
• Trap in the most humane way possible.
• Dispose of animal carcasses properly.
• Concentrate trapping in areas where animals are overabundant for the supporting habitat.
• Promptly report the presence of diseased animals to wildlife authorities.
• Assist landowners who are having problems with predators and other furbearers that have become a nuisance.
• Support and help train new trappers in trapping ethics, methods and means, conservation, fur handling, and marketing.
• Obey all trapping regulations, and support strict enforcement by reporting violations.
• Support and promote sound furbearer management.

Note: The Code of Ethics is reprinted from the Alaska Trappers Manual. The manual was created in a joint effort by the Alaska Trappers Association and the ADF&G.

Types of Traps

Traps can be set either on land or in or near the water. Some types of traps are designed to kill the trapped animal, and others are designed to capture the animal alive and unharmed (live-restraining devices).

• The most common type of killing devices are bodygrip traps.
• Live-restraining devices include foothold traps, enclosed foothold devices, cage traps, and some types of cable devices. With these traps, you are able to release non-target animals.
• Some furbearers are found more often in or near water. For these animals, trappers use submersion trapping systems, which hold the animal underwater until it dies.