Born Free USA welcomes the reintroduction of the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. Championed by Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), this important legislation would ban body-gripping traps – including steel-jaw leghold traps, Conibear traps, and strangulation neck snares – within our National Wildlife Refuge System: public, protected lands set aside to be a safe haven for our native wildlife.
“When Americans visit their local National Wildlife Refuges, most expect to enjoy nature without worrying that they—or their pets—will fall victim to a dangerous trap,” said Rep. Jerrold Nadler. “However, trapping is still allowed in many of the more than 570 refuges across the country, putting people, pets, and endangered species in danger of serious injury. These cruel devices have no place on protected public lands, and my bill will make sure our refuges are safe from this inhumane practice.”
Traps are cruel. Animals caught in traps suffer extreme pain and injury, as well as exposure to harsh conditions such as starvation, dehydration, predation, and more. By their very design, traps are indiscriminate and can cause severe injury and even death to anyone who steps into them – targeted wildlife, endangered species, companion animals, and even people. Born Free’s investigations have repeatedly shown that animals can also suffer prolonged and violent deaths in the hands of trappers, including being beaten to death with baseball bats.
Born Free USA’s CEO, Angela Grimes, said: “Traps cause painful and frightening deaths to animals who should be protected in our National Wildlife Refuge System. Some animals might be killed quickly, but many suffer for hours and even days. Animals who die by the trappers’ hands might be shot or bludgeoned to death. Those who escape – sometimes by gnawing off their own paws – might later succumb to injury from infection. Every element of trapping is cruel. It is time that we brought an end to this archaic practice once and for all.”
There are currently more than 570 designated wildlife refuges, forming a system that encompasses the most comprehensive and diverse collection of wildlife habitats in the world. Refuges provide a home for more than 380 endangered species and are visited by thousands of people every year. Despite this, and the inherent brutality and danger of the practice, trapping is currently permitted on 269 refuges (47%), with 255 in the lower 48 states and outlying territories and 14 in Alaska, where trapping is protected for indigenous people. This is an increase of 53 refuges in which trapping is authorized since 2021. Since that time, the land area within refuges which allow trapping has risen by 23% to 13.7 million acres in lower 48 states and outlying territories.
It is long past time to ban the use of these cruel and archaic devices on protected lands, and Born Free USA urges the House to act quickly to pass this important wildlife protection bill.
