The Pros and Cons of Various Types of Animal Traps

The best solution for the responsible trapper using any kind of animal trap is to check traps promptly and often - regardless of how lax the laws of the jurisdiction are - to reduce both the chances of animal suffering and to better preserve the condition of the animal pelt or carcass in the wild.

Checking your traps often will also decrease the chance that the capture of non-target or accidental catches would suffer from the experience.  The Oneida Victor Company strongly recommends that trapper everywhere in all industries take this factor very seriously when utilizing any kind of animal trap.

Leg Hold Traps - Leg Traps

These are the types of traps one thinks of when conjuring the term "coyote ugly", as in a trapped target that chews off its own limb to escape the trap.  Animals caught in leghold traps might also be at great risk to predators in the area.  The most logical and responsible solution to prevent both animal suffering, and loss of target to predators is for trappers to check their traps frequently as to reduce the chance of these things taking place.

Conibear or "Body Gripper" Traps

The Conibear, or body-gripper type of trap was designed to result in the swift death of its capture.  The desired outcome is the humane and minimal suffering of the intended catch.  A very serious concern with the use of these traps is the catching of unintended or "non-target" animals who accidentally become ensnared in a Conibear body gripper trap.  Most non-target animals who are caught in this kind of trap do not survive.

It is therefore the position of the Oneida Victor company that Conibear traps NOT BE USED in areas that pose serious threats to non-target animals, or accidental catches.  If domestic pets, endangered/threatened species, or human beings risk becoming injured or killed encountering a Conibear trap, the trapper should select an alternative method of achieving the capture of the desired target animal.

Far too many trappers have disregarded concern for this topic, and far too many domestic pets have needlessly died.  Please do your part to see that this becomes a topic of the past.  Thank you.

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Wildlife Management Devices by Oneida Victor® including:  Conibear® Traps, Soft Catch® Traps, Northwoods® Traps, Newhouse® Traps.  Made in the USA since 1852