Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Best Management Practices (BMPs) are an extension of ethics and should be considered when developing trapping skills. Wildlife professionals, trappers, and trapper associations have worked to improve trapping for many years, and most of the advancements used today come from the efforts of trappers. Wildlife agencies have a long history of regulating trapping to ensure that the traps and trapping systems being used are the best available, ensuring the most ethical and humane treatment of wildlife. State fish and wildlife agencies must continue to take a lead role by establishing a practical and effective plan for the improvement of trapping systems in order to maintain trapping as a valuable wildlife management practice.
The BMP framework provides a structure and criteria for identifying and documenting trapping methods and equipment that will continue to improve trapping. The trapping BMP project is intended to provide wildlife management professionals in the U.S. with the data necessary to ensure improved animal welfare in trapping programs. Trapping BMPs are based on scientific research and professional experience regarding currently available traps and trapping technology.
Trapping BMPs identify both techniques and traps that address the welfare of trapped animals and allow for the efficient, selective, safe, and practical capture of furbearers. Trapping BMPs are intended to be a practical tool for trappers, wildlife biologists, wildlife agencies, and anyone interested in improved traps and trapping systems. BMPs include technical recommendations from expert trappers and biologists and a list of specifications of traps that meet or exceed BMP criteria. BMPs provide options, allowing for discretion and decision making in the field when trapping furbearers in various regions of the U.S. They do not present a single choice that can or must be applied in all cases.
The suggestions contained in this document include practices, equipment, and techniques that will continue to ensure the welfare of trapped animals, avoid unintended captures of other animals, improve public confidence in trappers and wildlife managers, and maintain public support for trapping and wildlife management. Trapping BMPs are recommendations to be implemented in a voluntary and educational approach.
The trapping BMPs are the product of ongoing work that may be updated as additional traps are identified in the future. BMPs are intended to complement and enhance trapper education programs. It is recommended that all trappers participate in a trapper education course. Trapping BMPs provide additional technical and practical information to help trappers and managers identify and select the best traps available for a given species and provide an overview of methods for proper use.
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) has developed Best Management Practices for 22 species of furbearers in the US. In Maine, black bears are not considered a furbearer, yet the Design and Deployment Standards for trapping bears, and specifications for approved trap designs serve as Maine’s BMPs in regard to bear trapping.
BMP criteria for evaluating trapping devices consider: Animal Welfare, Efficiency, Selectivity, Practicality, and Safety.
BMPs are intended to inform the public about traps and trapping systems considered to be state of the art in animal welfare and efficiency.
Maine’s Wildlife biologists are highly respected and known for their expertise, with decades of research, innovation, and leadership when it comes to making sound decisions in regard to bear management.
All Trapping in North America is heavily regulated by state and provincial wildlife agencies. More information on BMPs may be found at the link provided: www.fishwildlife.org/afwa-inspires/furbearer-management.
