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News Release 08/16/06

NEW EDUCATIONAL GUIDES OFFER TRAPPERS THE MOST HUMANE, SAFE PRACTICES

Washington, D.C. (August 16, 2006) - As part of an unprecedented effort to continue to improve trapping programs' "Best Management Practices," a focus on animal welfare, efficiency, selectivity, practicality, and safety, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies announced the release of new education guides. "Best Management Practices" are based on the most extensive study of animal traps ever conducted in the United States . These new guides are in addition to others released in March.

"This second installment of Best Management Practices for animal traps continues to signify how important it is to continue improvement in furbearer management programs throughout the United States ," says Gordon R. Batcheller, Certified Wildlife Biologist with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources. "These new guides, with the support and involvement of state fish and wildlife agencies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and expert trappers, BMPs define the "state of the art" in animal trapping based on extensive research. The development and use of BMPs by trappers is very important to sustaining furbearer conservation programs throughout the United States ."

The purpose of the Best Management Practices (BMP) process is to scientifically evaluate the traps and trapping systems used for capturing furbearers in the United States . The results of this research serve as a reference guide to wildlife management agencies, conservation organizations, tribal nations, researchers, trapper organizations, individual trappers, and others interested in the continued improvement of traps and trapping systems.

The new BMPs include guides for opossum, gray fox, and bobcat. Each of these can be found online at http://www.fishwildlife.org/furbearer.html . The goals of these educational tools are to: Promote regulated trapping as a modern wildlife management tool; identify practical traps and trapping techniques that continue to improve efficiency, selectivity, and the welfare of trapped animals; provide specifications for traps that meet BMP criteria for individual species in various regions of the United States; provide wildlife management professionals with information to evaluate trapping systems in the United States, and; instill public confidence in, and maintain public support for, wildlife management and trapping through distribution of science-based information.

Trapping BMPs use the latest traps and trapping technology and are based on scientific research and professional experience. 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 furbearering wildlife.

"As wildlife management agencies across the nation continue to face impediments to managing furbearer species through trapping, it is critical that agencies have the type of science based information on trapping, provided by BMPs, to allow them to maintain regulated trapping as a viable wildlife management tool," says Bryant White, Furbearer Research Coordinator of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. "Likewise, this work is an important component of our understanding with the European Union (USA/EU Agreed Minute and Annex) for improving the welfare of trapped animals, and also sustaining the trade in wild furs."

Trapping is a highly regulated activity. Anyone who traps must follow strict rules established and enforced by state fish and wildlife agencies. Restrictions on species that may be harvested, harvest seasons, trap types, trapping methods, and areas open to trapping are some examples of the guidelines and regulations that state agencies regularly review, implement, and enforce. Trapping is an element of many wildlife management programs. In some cases, local populations of furbearers are controlled, thereby helping to minimize human-wildlife conflicts and mitigate habitat changes brought about by certain furbearer species.

Using the proper techniques and equipment mentioned in the BMP guides, trapping has many benefits for wildlife conservation. Trapping contributes to the protection of threatened and endangered species by controlling predators, and is also is used to relocate animals and restore populations in areas where conditions are suitable for the species to thrive. Scientists collect important ecological information about wildlife through the use of trapping. Preferred habitats, migration patterns, and population indices for some species of wildlife are determined through mark and recapture programs and by monitoring regulated harvest levels. In addition, trapping can help reduce the exposure of humans and pets to rabies and other diseases. Trapping is widely recognized by the wildlife conservation community as a beneficial outdoor activity, providing food, clothing, cosmetic items, artists' supplies, and other products.

The guides, which can be found at http://www.fishwildlife.org/furbearer.html , were created using a collaborative approach that included the work of experts from state and federal wildlife management agencies, expert trappers, and statisticians.

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The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies-the organization that represents all of North America's fish and wildlife agencies-promotes sound management and conservation, and speaks with a unified voice on important fish and wildlife issues. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies is the collective voice of North America 's fish and wildlife agencies at every level of government. The Association provides its member agencies and their senior staff with coordination services that range from migratory birds, fish habitat, and invasive species, to conservation education, leadership development, and international relations. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration on key conservation and management policies, and works to ensure that all fish and wildlife entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides management and technical assistance to both new and current fish and wildlife leaders.