Trapping Regulations
The Audubon Society of Portland and the Humane Society of the United States have announced legislation to reform Oregon's barbaric trapping regulations, considered to be among the worst trapping regulations in the United States. Senate Bill 494 would eliminate the use of body-gripping traps such as leg hold traps and neck snares for commercial and recreational purposes, and would require these traps to be checked every 24 hours when used for other purposes.
Spring 2013 update: This legislative session, Audubon and Humane Society of the United States introduced legislation that would have brought much-needed reforms to protect both wild animals and pets. Sadly the bill will not even get a hearing. Over the past decade both the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Commission and the legislature have consistently failed to reform trapping. If the people of Oregon want responsible trapping regulations, it will probably need to happen at the ballot box, and we will be exploring a ballot initiative in the coming year.
Background Information
Oregon currently has some of weakest trapping regulations in the U.S. Animals can be left to suffer in traps in some cases for up to a week. Long-term efforts to reform Oregon’s trapping regulations through the ODFW administrative process have repeatedly been rejected — in fact, while other states such as Washington and California have banned these inhumane and indiscriminate devices, Oregon has actually weakened its regulations. We have seen animals ranging from Golden Eagles to River Otters that have been maimed and mutilated in these devices and left to suffer for days on end.
Based on the results of a 2012 ODFW survey of trapping regulations in 40 other states, it is clear the Oregon has among the weakest trapping regulations in the United States. The survey found the following:
- 16 (40%) states require traps-check intervals of 24 hours without exceptions
- 14 (35%) states required traps check requirements of 24 hours with some exceptions
- 2 states require traps to be checked every 36 hours
- 2 states require traps to be checked every 2-3 days
- 1 state requires traps to be checked every 4 days
- 2 states have no trap check requirements
- Oregon allows many animals to be left in body gripping traps up to 76 hours for predatory animals in general and up to 7 days for predatory animals doing damage on private property! This puts Oregon in the bottom 10% of states when it comes to trap check requirements.
Trapping News
Feb. 12, 2013: Portland Audubon and Humane Society of the United States announce trapping reform legislation
The Audubon Society of Portland and the
Humane Society of the United States have announced legislation to reform
Oregon's barbaric trapping regulations, considered to be among the worst
trapping regulations in the United States. Senate Bill 494 would
eliminate the use of body-gripping traps such as leg hold traps and neck
snares for commercial and recreational purposes, and would require
these traps to be checked every 24 hours when used for other purposes.
Oct. 8, 2012: Audubon Society of Portland, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust post reward in illegal leg hold trap case
Audubon Society of Portland, The Humane Society of the United States, and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust have posted a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for setting an illegal leg hold trap in Beaverton.
May 25, 2012: ODFW staff reject recommendation for more humane trapping
On the evening of May 24, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife released a staff report recommending that the ODFW Commission continue the worst trapping practices in the U.S. In March, the Audubon Society of Portland, Humane Society of the United States and other conservation groups petitioned ODFW to reform its inhumane and irresponsible trapping practices. In May, the ODFW Commission rejected the petition based on technical issues, but instructed staff to return in June with recommendations addressing the petition's concerns. The recommendations that emerged on May 24 demonstrate that ODFW staff failed to get the message.
March 8, 2012: Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission petitioned for stronger trapping regulations
Audubon Society of Portland, The Humane Society of the United States, Predator Defense, the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club and Cascadia Wildlands have filed a petition before the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission to protect non-target wildlife species and family pets from cruel and indiscriminate traps and snares.
