Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices

Trappers and state wildlife agencies continue to develop best management practices (BMPs) for trapping in the United States. Trapping BMPs are documents that identify techniques and traps that address the welfare of trapped animals and allow for the efficient, selective, safe and practical capture of furbearers. BMPs are methods to improve trapping by developing recommendations using sound science. They are developed through actual field tests and careful data collection. The information is provided to state agencies and trappers for voluntary use in their trapper education and furbearer management programs.

Why Are BMPs Needed?

BMPs are needed to:

• Ensure the continued responsible management of wildlife resources.
• Continue the process of improving traps and trapping methods to maintain and improve animal welfare.
• Maintain public acceptance of trapping through a reduction in real and perceived problems associated with trapping.
• Sustain regulated trapping now and in the future and to maintain the integrity of furbearer management programs throughout the United States.

Regulated trapping will only prosper and continue if the trapping community and natural resource agencies work together to improve harvest systems and promote the humane treatment of animals. Thanks for your support!

For additional information on BMPs, please visit the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies' Furbearer Management webpage.