As an avid trapper myself, I often hear the question of what is one of the benefits of trapping, and this article should answer this question for you.
Trapping has many benefits, but wildlife conservation is one of the main benefits. The American wildlife conservation programs implement trapping as a critical and essential tool for wildlife management and research to study many different animal species in their habitat.
Many in today’s world misunderstand trapping and its usefulness. Continue reading as I discuss the benefits of trapping.
What is One Benefit of Trapping?
Regarding the benefits of trapping, which are many, the most evident one is how it benefits wildlife management and conservation efforts. These efforts include predator management, Species protection, and environmental protection. Another less known effort is that wildlife conservationists employ is of wildlife research. Let me break these efforts down further and go into more depth.
The American Wildlife Management and Conservation Effort is the most advanced and successful program that has been developed for managing wildlife species populations in the world today.
Predator Management
Predator management plays a major role in wildlife conservation. Sometimes these predators, such as coyotes and foxes, are harder to hunt by other means due to their aloofness and sense of smell. And if left unchecked, can destroy many habitats. This is where trapping comes in as a management tool for predators.
Take, for instance, coyotes, as their populations will continue to grow far beyond what the environment can handle. Not only that, but they will completely decimate the smaller animal populations, which are their primary source of food. They can also be a nuisance to many farmers, killing their livestock and damaging crops, that is a livelihood for many individuals and families.
Species Protection
When It comes to the protection of certain species, trapping is implemented to help animals from over depredation like the examples listed above. It also helps to keep a healthy amount of population in the environment.
Environmental Protection
Regulated trapping plays a major role in the protection of the environment. When it comes to human and urban expansions animal natural habitats are likely destroyed causing more and more animal interactions with humans that could be dangerous to both humans and the animals alike. There is a balancing act that has to be done to benefit both us and our wildlife. And that is what these agencies set out to accomplish with all their regulations, research, and rules.
Take for instance the beaver, when it dams up a waterway it can cause multitudes of problems for the ecosystem and our modern-day life. When beavers build their dams close to human civilization it can be a flooding hazard to property in that area.
Wildlife Research
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation’s final principle in North America is scientific wildlife management. This principle often prevents species from being hunted, fished, trapped, or interfered with. However, the species are often required to be controlled so they don’t get too abundant. Trapping is a good way to learn about the local ecosystem and benefit wildlife and the environment with the research that researchers can conduct.
It is another compelling advantage of regulated trapping that disease can be prevented. Trapping can help lower the number of animals on the landscape if a certain species has a disease. With a smaller population, the disease is less likely to spread. This increased difficulty can, and often does, result in enough time for the disease to run its course and leave the population, resulting in the retention of breeding animals for future growth.
What is One Way Trapping Benefits Non-Hunters?
There are many benefits that the non-hunter can benefit from those of us who trap. Whether it be from licensed trappers whose job it is to remove nuisance wildlife from homes and property. To the seasonal trapper that sets out their trap lines during the trapping seasons. From the protection of the environment to predator management we all play a major role in the efforts of wildlife conservation.
Is Trapping Humane?
Yes, trapping is a humane activity. Trapping is a tool used by the American Wildlife Agencies for wildlife conservation efforts and environmental protection.
That said, trapping is a heavily well-regulated activity by the American wildlife agencies, from both state and federal agencies. They use trapping as a tool for predator management, species protection, environmental protection, and research. The majority of wildlife agencies also have a rule that trappers must check their traps daily, and doing so reduces harm and is considered good stewardship of the outdoors.
In the year 1996, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies undertook a great effort to research the best management practices for a well-regulated trapping industry in the United States. To add to this, there is a plethora of education sources to train people in the proper handling and management of fur-bearing species offered by all the different state wildlife agencies.
In Conclusion
While trapping was crucial in the discovery, settlement, and economy of the United States in its early years, it still plays an important role today. We can’t properly manage our outdoor resources for future generations without it. Although trapping does not provide the same jobs or economic resources as it used to, it provides a multitude of benefits to the environment and wildlife residing there.
Trapping also falls victim every year to many kinds of unmerited attacks. When it comes to the truth about trapping, it should be understood that the real facts about this activity far outweigh any quick and emotional responses to trapping.