Animal Cruelty

Animal Humane New Mexico Position Statement on Trapping

Coyote caught in trap in New Mexico

This trapped coyote was discovered by a group of hikers in New Mexico

In February of 2011, a group of hikers discovered this trapped coyote. It suffered acute lacerations and a fractured bone. Apparently, the trapper had forgotten to check his trap.

Animal Humane | New Mexico joins the American Veterinary Association, Animal Protection of New Mexico, the American Animal Hospital Association and the National Animal Control Association in declaring the use of snares, leg hold and conibear traps to be inhumane to animals.

 

trapped bobcat

Bobcat caught in steel-jaw leg-hold trap

Animal Humane | New Mexico further opposes their use on public lands. The use of these traps is inhumane and indiscriminate, trapping wild animals, protected species and domestic pets. Trapped animals are subject to extreme suffering, panic and agony often for hours on end. The majority of the animals trapped die a violent death. Trapping on public lands is a public safety issue with hikers and their pets being injured by these hidden hazards.

Animal Humane | New Mexico is against the use of these traps because they are indiscriminate and inhumane and urges the NM Game and Fish Commission to immediately ban their use on public lands.

fox with massive injuries caught in steel-jaw leg-hold trap

Despite their precariously low numbers, swift foxes are still trapped even as their pelts are practically worthless on global fur markets.

Investigation Inside the World of Fur Trapping

“We uncovered for the first time in more than a decade the shocking cruelty and brutality involved in the trapping of wild animals for the fur trade.”

trapped fox crushed undefootIn early 2011 Born Free USA and Respect for Animals conducted a landmark investigation inside the world of fur trapping.

Born Free USA’s investigation documented trappers in New Mexico strangling, drowning and chest stomping animals. Read more

Read “Victims of Vanity”, Born Free USA’s full trapping investigation report [7.2 MB PDF]

Animals suffer pain, trauma, and stress when held by traps. Immobilized animals can experience dehydration, hunger, panic-induced self-mutilation, exposure to weather, and predation.

Injured animals have a reduced ability to hunt, forage for food, and thus their survival is jeopardized.

Kill traps such as conibear traps and neck snares pose an inefficient and brutal death to its victims. Many fail to render the animals unconscious in the recommended time. They can also mis-strike, capturing an unintended body part.

Body gripping traps do not discriminate by design. Any creature with legs that touch the ground can trigger the devices. In addition to traps, legal methods of killing furbearers include dogs, firearms, and bows and arrows.

mutilated remains of fox caught in trap

Trapped animals can not avoid predators. This trapped fox was torn apart while immobilized in a leg hold trap.

nm ziaKnow Your NM State Legislators!

Your New Mexico state Senator and Representative have the power to ban traps, snares and poisons on public lands. Find out who they are and let them know you oppose trapping on public lands. A simple phone call and email can make all the difference.

FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS →

People's Forum Panel Report on Public Lands Trapping

The New Mexico Legislature should ban trapping on public lands in New Mexico because traps harm people, animal companions, and whole populations of wildlife including rare species. Most New Mexican voters believe that trapping is cruel and unnecessary.

Read the Report »