Fur traps, legal in New Brunswick, sometimes catch the wrong animal

A bald eagle is recovering at the Atlantic Wildlife Institute after finding itself caught in a coyote snare — something that the institute says is not a new occurrence.

"We have seen it before, where we've had other eagles, bald eagles — and even a golden eagle some years back — that were caught in the snares and either caught around their neck, or we had one that came in that still had the snare embedded around its wing," Pam Novak, director of wildlife care, said.

The eagle, which was found in the Renous area, was sent to the institute to recover, which will be a slow process, she said. 

Snares are one type of method used by harvesters to trap fur-bearing animals, such as coyotes. These animals are then used in fur products, such as clothing.

Fur harvesting is regulated by the New Brunswick government and regulations differ across Canada. Harvesters require a licence and must abide by the rules laid out by the government. But trapping for fur has long been criticized by animal rights groups who want such snares and traps banned. 

The Department of Natural Resources did not provide an interview about trapping and snaring and whether regulations could change in the future, but Valerie Kilfoil, a spokesperson for the department, said in an email that the eagle in Renous was caught in what was deemed a legal snare.

Kilfoil said about 1,100 licences are sold annually, which allow the individual to trap, snare or hunt 17 species of fur-bearing animals, including coyote, bobcat, and fox, during the snaring season, which runs from mid-November to the end of February. 

She also said trapper education training, before acquiring a fur harvester licence, has been mandatory since 1981.

Charles Neveu, the president of the New Brunswick Trappers and Fur Harvesters Federation, said continued education is also paramount to ensure good practices are followed. 

He said snares and traps are certified through the Fur Institute of Canada. According to the institute's website, as of October 2023, 248 trap models had been certified. Certain traps are designed to kill an animal quickly, while others are used to restrain it until the trapper arrives. The website says different designs are used depending on the targeted species and where and when the trap will be set. 

Neveu said there are certain things harvesters can do to lower the risk of catching what is referred to as a "non-target species." For example, there's a device that can be put on a snare, he said, which acts as a breakaway if an animal above a certain weight, such as a moose, walks into it.

With birds, since most hunt with their eyesight, it's important to place bait in a dense canopy, Neveu said, so the bird doesn't see it and try to swoop in. 

As well, he said it's important not to place a snare along the main access trail leading to the bait, or within 15 metres of the bait, to avoid catching birds or even someone's pet. 

"[A dog is] not going to react like a predator, like a coyote or a fox," said Neveu. "He's going to smell the bait, and he's going to go directly from the road to the bait and check it and then come back."