Fur Is Fatal

Fur Trapping and Farming 

Trapping

Types of Traps

--Steel-Jaw Leghold Trap

--Conibear® Trap

--Snare Trap

Trapping Justified

Fur Factory Farms

--Dog and Cat Fur

Take Action

Trapping                                                                                       Back to Top

Millions of animals are trapped and killed each year for their skins and fur—animals sacrificed so their bodies can be used as fashion statements to line jackets worn by runway models and trim the edges of designer clothing, not to mention the full-length coats made completely of animal fur or skin. Animals most often falling victim to the whims of fashion designers include beavers, bobcats, coyotes, mink, opossums, raccoons, wolves, river otters, and lynx. In addition, millions of animals are trapped in torturous contraptions who are not the targeted animal. These “trash” animals, as they are referred to in the trapping industry, are simply discarded as they are of no use to trappers for pelts. Among these trash animals are family dogs and cats, deer, songbirds, raptors, livestock, and some endangered species. The question must be asked then, why does humankind continue this brutal practice? The creation of synthetic materials long ago eliminated humanity’s dependence on fur and animal skin for protection from the elements.

Types of Traps                                                                              Back to Top

There are three traps used most often by trappers in the United States—the most popular is the steel-jaw leghold trap, but the Conibear® and snare traps are also used. Not one of these trapping methods is considered humane; not one of them instantly kills the trapped animal; and not one of these traps should still be used in today’s society. Animals caught in any of these traps are ensnared in excruciating pain until the trapper returns to bludgeon, suffocate, or shoot the animal before skinning him or her.

Many trappers do not check their traps regularly, and few state laws require they do so. Hours could pass, or days, or sometimes even weeks before a trapper returns to check the traps. Many times, the entangled animals die from exposure to extreme weather, predation, or starvation. Desperate, panicking animals have been known to break bones, including legs, backs, and necks trying to escape. Some—particularly mothers—attempt to chew off their legs in an attempt to return home to their babies. Trapping is an archaic form of capturing animals for their pelts—pelts which humanity no longer needs.

Steel-Jaw Leghold Trap                                                                   Back to Top

Operating exactly how its name implies, the steel-jaw leghold trap is designed to snap closed on an animal’s leg—or any part of the animal it happens to close on—holding the animal there until the trapper arrives. These traps close with unimaginable force, ripping flesh, severing tendons and ligaments, and breaking bones.

As if these steel-jaw leghold traps were not inhumane as they are, trappers have found a way to make them even more brutal in an attempt to trap animals found in water. Steel-jaw leghold traps suspended in water will snap shut on any animal who is unfortunate enough to swim into one, holding the animal underwater until the animal drowns. For some animals, such as beavers, this can take up to 10 minutes.

Conibear® Trap                                                                               Back to Top

The Conibear® trap is similar in design to the steel-jaw leghold trap in that it is designed to snap shut when the trigger is activated. The major difference between these two traps is that the Conibear® is a larger, full body trap designed to snap shut at the base of the captured animal’s spinal chord, instantly killing the animal. However, it is rare that an animal happens to trigger one of these traps in the absolute perfect position. Therefore, it is rare that an animal trapped in a Conibear® is killed instantly. The majority of these animals suffer just as the animals in the steel-jaw leghold traps do. Also, like the steel-jaw leghold traps, these traps can be placed underwater.

Snare Trap                                                                                     Back to Top

Snare traps are the most inhumane traps legal in the United States today. They are primitive, unnecessarily brutal, and, unfortunately, inexpensive. The snare trap is merely a coil of wire fashioned into a noose at one end, with an anchor at the other end. Snares can catch animals by the neck, midsection, or a limb. As the animal tries to become free from the trap, the wire grows tighter around the animal’s body. This can result in broken legs, crushed organs, and suffocation. Animals caught in these traps die slow, painful deaths.

Trapping Justified                                                                         Back to Top

All trapping is not just to satisfy the fur industry. Some trappers believe trapping can benefit a particular population of animals and can control for disease. They also believe by eliminating some wildlife, they are keeping the environment safe for humans. However, studies show trapping and killing animals often increase populations within the same species, as well as within other species. For example, decreasing the number of coyotes in a given area can cause them to reproduce at greater rates, thereby increasing the population.

Killing top predators like wolves in any given area will increase the number of prey animals within that ecosystem, which could have bleak and severe repercussions, such as eventually creating barren land where once lush forests flourished. This occurs when animals, whose populations are normally regulated by wolves, are permitted to live longer and reproduce prolifically. These animals, many of whom are herbivores, eat the grasses and trees within their ecosystem. The increase of animals consuming plant life in a given ecosystem eventually causes the death of vegetation in that area. When grasses and trees start disappearing, destroying the root system, riverbeds have nothing to support them and will collapse. With the slaughter of every wolf, this apocalyptic vision moves closer to becoming reality.

Another myth perpetuated by trappers is that killing these animals helps control the spread of disease by killing the sickly, slow, and unhealthy. The obvious problem with this is that there is no way to ensure only the weak members of a species are trapped—there is not even a way to ensure the targeted species is the only one trapped. Steel-jaw leghold, Conibear®, and snare traps kill indiscriminately.

Finally, trappers purport trapping is a way to control nuisance animals, or animals who have the unfortunate luck to come into contact with humans on a fairly regular basis, such as feral cats, opossums, raccoons, deer, squirrels, and rabbits. Because humans have built housing developments in their habitat, these animals are coming into people’s yards searching for food. Without considering why this is happening or exploring possible humane solutions, some people consider trapping and killing these sentient beings to be the best solution.

Another nuisance animal, the coyote, is often trapped for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Often, coyotes will venture out for their weekly hunt to discover a herd of livestock corralled in their hunting grounds. Taking advantage of this situation gets these animals labeled a nuisance, and the traps start covering the ground. Ranchers have many alternatives available for keeping predators at bay. High fencing, electricity, and guard animals are just a few examples. Before killing America’s natural predators, ranchers should consider humane alternatives

On a positive note, 88 countries have banned steel-jaw leghold traps because they consider them to be inhumane. However, only eight of our nation’s states have passed legislation regulating their use.

Fur Factory Farms                                                                        Back to Top

Just as there are factory farms for food production, there are factory farms for fur production. Animals farmed worldwide for their fur and skin include minks, foxes, chinchillas, lynxes, and companion animals, such as hamsters, cats, and dogs. These animals live their painfully short lives in depressing conditions. Crammed into tiny cages stacked on top of each other, fur-bearing animals are unable to move freely or express actions they normally would in the wild, such as swimming, running, and playing. Animals confined on fur farms are fed meat byproducts unfit for human consumption and drink water through systems that often freeze in winter.

The most common animal farmed for fur is the mink. Solitary by nature, minks suffer needlessly in these farms. Because they are accustomed to roaming free and do not form family units in the wild, minks exhibit neurotic behavior when confined in large numbers—they pace, circle, and fight and have been known to become cannibalistic in cages. These animals maintain their wild mentality and, despite years of farming, have never been fully domesticated.

The method of slaughter for fur farmed animals is horrific. Because their worth is in their skin, fur farmed animals must be killed in a way that will not harm their pelts. Small animals are crammed into air-tight boxes and gassed with vehicular exhaust, which does not kill every animal. Animals unlucky enough to survive are skinned alive. Animals who do not fit into small boxes are anally or vaginally electrocuted. Still others are suffocated, poisoned, or beaten to death.

Dog and Cat Fur                                                                            Back to Top

In some countries, such as China, companion animals are farmed for their fur. Subjected to the same conditions as their wild comrades, dogs and cats are slaughtered for their skins for use in coats, blankets, stuffed animals, toys, and accessories. Often, dog and cat fur used in clothing is intentionally mislabeled, not labeled, or dyed to appear “faux.” Manufacturers feel this deception is necessary because of the low cost of dog and cat fur, and the consumers’ reluctance to wear it.

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In the 1990s, public outcry against this practice convinced several countries to ban dog and cat fur importation, as seen in the U.S. Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act. This forced companies to move their dog and cat fur production to the Far East where wages are lower and there are fewer regulations. Unfortunately, China has few animal cruelty laws in place, and more than two million dogs and cats are slaughtered each year for their skin with no regard to their suffering.

In most countries, dogs and cats are treated as companion animals; but in places where they are farmed for their fur, they are treated as unsympathetically as livestock. To prevent damage to the fur, dogs are tied on short cables, stabbed in the groin area, and left to bleed to death. Cats are hanged by their necks until they suffocate. If these animals are fortunate, they die before they are skinned, although the unlucky ones are skinned alive. Many of these animals are strays or lost pets, as proven by the collars noted on slaughter-bound animals during industry investigations.

Because of these horrendous practices, several countries have now banned import, export, sale, and production of dog and cat fur, including the United States, Australia, and all states within the European Union.

Take Action to Protect Wild Animals

What can you do to protect wild animals from becoming fur garments? First, refrain from wearing or buying clothing from designers who use fur and stores that sell fur garments. Other humane actions include:

• Educate others on the grim life fur animals live and how horrific their deaths are.             
• Contact your legislators and tell them about the realities of this issue—ask them to support bans on trapping and U.S. fur farms.
• Consider humane alternatives to solve conflicts with wildlife.

May 2010                                                                                     Back to Top