GENERAL REGULATIONS

Regulatory Requirements for the Use of Trapping Devices  back to top

• Foothold traps may not be used to harvest fur-bearers other than bobcat, coyote, fox, lynx or wolf. Other fur-bearing species must be taken in a killing device or in a live-trap set to capture the animal by holding it in a container (see Humane Trapping on this page).
• Traps that are not killing devices must be checked at least once every 48 hours, or at least once every 24 hours if set under the authority of a Resident Fur Management Licence.
• Foothold traps that are not defined as killing devices may not be used in trees or on poles.
• Foothold traps with toothed jaws or a jaw-spread of 23 cm (9 in.) or more may not be used to trap fur-bearing animals.
• Snares* for taking fur-bearing animals may only be set by holders of Registered Fur Management Licences or
  – by holders of Resident Fur Management Licences for bobcat, coyote, fox, squirrel or wolf (provided they meet the requirements listed in this section) and for beaver (provided the snare loop is completely under water).
  – by residents for rabbit or hare on lands to which they have right-of-access (provided the snare wire is not larger than 20-gauge and the snare loop is not more than 13 cm (5 in.) in diameter).
  * Snare devices include neck snares, power-neck snares and foot snares.
• Slide-wire sets must be equipped with a lock. The slide-wires and weight must be properly anchored, and set in water that is deep enough to ensure that the largest animal that may be captured will be totally submerged.
• Neck snares must be equipped with a locking device that is designed and set to prevent the snare loop from loosening again after it has tightened on the neck of the fur-bearing animal, except when:
  – set to hold, with the intent to kill, beaver under water; or
  – made of a single strand of wire and are set to capture squirrel, rabbit or hare.
  

It should be noted that raccoon and skunk are classed as non-licence animals and may be hunted or trapped (see Control of Problem Wildlife). Scroll down for information on traps meeting requirements of the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards for raccoon.

Additional Regulations  back to top

No one may remove, damage, spring or in any way interfere with traps set by another person for the taking of fur-bearing animals. (Exception: Holders of Registered Fur Management Licences may remove traps or snares found within the limits of their trapping areas if they are set unlawfully. Any such removal must be reported immediately to a Fish & Wildlife officer.

It is unlawful to:

• use traps that do not meet the requirements of the AIHTS,
• use a poison or drug for taking a fur-bearing animal, except as authorized by the Agricultural Pests Act;
• use sharp hooks or similar devices to capture fur-bearers; or
• trap in a wildlife sanctuary. Please refer to the map in the hard-copy version of these regulations for locations of these sanctuaries (click here to request a copy of the 2011-2012 Alberta Guide to Trapping Regulations. Some exceptions exist for Registered Fur Management Areas - RFMAs. (For further information, contact the nearest Fish & Wildlife Division district office); or
• harvest fur-bearing animals within 100 metres of Highway 1A in WMU 410, except with the use of traps.
  
• In WMUs 102-166, 200-260, 300-351, 354-360, 400-446, 507, 508, 514, 521, 522, 526 and 841, it is unlawful to carry a weapon on an off-highway vehicle between one hour before sunrise and the following noon during an open season for big game (see 2011 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations). However, this prohibition does not apply to persons hunting on privately owned lands, and it does not apply to those trapping under the authority of a Registered Fur Management Licence or a Resident Fur Management Licence.
  

Trapper Education  back to top

Where there is enough interest to justify the program, Standard Trapping and Conservation courses are held at various locations throughout Alberta during the fall and winter. In these courses, lasting a total of 28 to 30 hours, participants receive information on humane trapping techniques, fur management regulations, fur handling and marketing. Expert fur handlers provide instruction on fur quality and grading.

Registration is limited to a maximum of 20 people, and the registration fee is payable in advance. Registrants receive a course manual and a variety of relevant brochures.

Information on program locations may be obtained from the Alberta Trappers’ Association, Box 6020, Westlock, Alberta
T7P 2P7, phone 780-349-6626 , fax 780-349-6634 or www.albertatrappers.com. When courses are not available, potential first-time licence holders may purchase the Alberta Wild Fur Management Study Guide to prepare themselves for writing the required examination. These guides are available at district Fish and Wildlife Division offices and the Alberta Trappers’ Association office.

Mandatory Requirements for First-time Trappers  back to top

A “first-time trapper” is a person who has:
1) never before held a licence – in Alberta or elsewhere that authorized the trapping of fur-bearing animals, or
2) not completed a fur management course.

Before obtaining any fur management licence, first-time trappers must either:

• pass a test which deals with humane trapping and fur management, or
• complete a Trapper Education course.

Appointments to write tests may be made at Fish & Wildlife Division district offices. Testing times vary with each office.

Black Bear Seasons and Baiting  back to top

Six black bear may be hunted but not trapped in each Fur Management Area north of the Red Deer River during the open season for black bear. Registered trappers who are permitted to hunt black bear on their RFMA may use bait for that purpose in the following WMUs: 322, 330-338, 348, 358-360, 500-507, 509, 510, 512-520, 522, 523, 529-536, 539-542 and portions of 320, 324, 357, 521, 526, 528 and 544. Baiting is prohibited within 1.6 km (1 mi) of occupied dwellings (owners or occupants of dwellings are exempted from this restriction if they have permission to bait from the owner or occupant of all other dwellings within 1.6 km of the bait), provincial parks, provincial and forest recreation areas and some industrial sites. Each bait site must have a readily observable sign legibly showing the owner’s name or Registered Fur Management Area number. Furthermore, each bait must be posted with surrounding signs to warn other people of its presence. Also, baiting is restricted to the open season and preceding 2 weeks in each specific WMU. See this section of the 2011 Alberta Guide to Hunting Regulations.

Mandatory Registration  back to top

If fisher, lynx, otter or wolverine are killed during an open season they must be registered within 30 days of the close of that season. If they are killed outside of an open season they must be registered within 30 days of the kill. In all cases they must be registered before being sold, processed or exported.

All wolves taken in any of WMUs 300-318, 324-330, 339 or 400-434 under any authority must be registered within 14 days of harvest.

All bobcat taken under any authority must be registered within 14 days after the close of the open season or 30 days after the date which the animal was killed, which ever occurs first.

Registration is a way of recording information about the harvest of fur-bearers. This information helps fur managers set seasons and quotas for following years. Registration provides information such as:

• the size and number of males, females and juvenile animals captured;
• the time of the season they were caught; and
• where they were caught.

Trappers benefit from the mandatory registration requirement because it allows for appropriate changes in quotas and seasons. Accurate data prevents the over-harvest of sensitive species of fur-bearers, ensuring a viable resource for the future (click here for registration information).

Sale of Wildlife  back to top

In Alberta anyone may sell the following:

• processed (tanned or otherwise permanently preserved, but not dried, salted or frozen) skins of fur-bearing animals;
• black bear skins, provided they have been taken lawfully (black bear claws may only be sold if they remain attached to the whole skin);
• the skins of most animals, including skunk and raccoon, for which a licence is not required;
• skinned beaver carcasses including the tail; or
• the claws, skulls and teeth of lawfully taken fur-bearing animals.

Sale of Pelts and Parts  back to top

No pelt of any fur-bearing animal, except one taken according to the regulations listed under Control of Problem Wildlife may be wasted, destroyed or spoiled. No raw skins of fur-bearing animals may be sold to anyone who is not a fur dealer. Anyone in legal possession of a beaver may sell the skinned carcass of the beaver to use as bait or animal food. Except as noted under Exporting, it is unlawful to export from Alberta all, or any part of, the skin or pelt of a fur-bearing animal, without first obtaining a provincial Export Permit.

The claws, skulls and teeth of lawfully taken fur-bearing animals may be sold without restriction (note that black bears are not included as they are big game animals). These parts of fur-bearing animals may also be exported without a provincial export permit (note that Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna — CITES permits are required for exporting any part of a wolf, lynx, bobcat or otter across an international boundary).

Exporting  back to top

With some exceptions noted below, those wishing to export fur-bearing animals from Alberta must have a provincial export permit. These permits may be obtained from any Fish & Wildlife Division district office.

Persons exporting wolf, lynx, bobcat, otter or black bear products out of Canada must also obtain a federal export permit issued according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Information about CITES permits may be obtained at Environment Canada offices in Edmonton (780-951-8891) or Calgary (403-292-4103).

The following products* may be exported without a provincial export permit:

• beaver castor,
• beaver oil glands, claws, skulls and teeth of fur-bearing animals, and
• processed (tanned or otherwise permanently preserved, but not dried, salted or frozen) skins of fur-bearing animals.
• coyote skins lawfully possessed.

*The above products must have been harvested under a lawful authority in Alberta or elsewhere.

(Note: Black bear are classified as big game, not as fur-bearing animals. Most black bears taken from an RFMA require provincial export permits. For more information on export conditions for black bear, please contact the nearest Fish & Wildlife Division district office. CITES permits are still required for exporting any part of a black bear, wolf, lynx, bobcat or otter across an international boundary.)

*Persons exporting fur directly to the European Union without using the services of Canadian fur auction houses, should be aware that special documents may be required. Please contact the receiving jurisdiction for applicable information.

Commercial Export of Wildlife to the United States
The United Sates Fish and Wildlife Service (US FWS) regulates commercial shipments of wildlife that enter or leave the U.S. In particular, taxidermist and outfitter-guides may experience difficulties transporting wildlife to the U.S. unless such businesses are licenced with the US FWS for transporting commercial shipments of wildlife across the U.S. border. For more information, contact the US FWS at 1-800-344-9453 or view information at: www.fws.gov

Humane Trapping  back to top

Fur-bearing animals must be trapped using methods that are proven to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering. The manner in which animals are trapped is a concern of many Albertans, including trappers. Those who follow the Code for Responsible Trapping will help to ensure that the harvest of this resource is done in a way that is socially acceptable.

Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards
The Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) came into force in Canada on June 1, 1999. It is a binding agreement between the European Union (EU), Canada and Russia. The United States and the EU have signed a similar commitment, which unifies the North American wild fur market.

Canada signed the AIHTS only after careful consultation with trappers, provincial and territorial governments and fur industry representatives. Alberta has agreed to implement the AIHTS standards. Implementation is an ongoing process, and trappers will be kept informed of any new developments.

The AIHTS:

• Allows for continuing export of wild fur products into the EU.
  
• Commits all parties to applying the AIHTS standards to all trapping, including commercial use.
  
• Supports further research and testing for the ongoing improvement of trapping devices.
  
• Provides for other elements such as product certification, trap certification and trapper education.
  
• Will allow for the use of jaw-type leg/foothold restraining traps in submersion sets for semi-aquatic fur-bearers.
  
• Allows for the use of design-approved snares.
  
• Allows for the use of traditional wooden dead-fall traps.
  
• Will allow for the use of cage or box traps on land for the listed fur-bearing species provided these devices meet the restraining trap standard by 2007.
  
• Prohibits the use of all jaw-type leg/foothold restraining traps (including padded traps) on land for badger, beaver, ermine, fisher, marten, muskrat and otter. Alberta adopted similar legislation for these species, and others before the AIHTS became effective.
  
• Prohibits the use of conventional steel-jawed leghold restraining traps on land for bobcat, coyote, lynx, raccoon and wolf.

It should be noted that the adequacy of trapping devices must be properly tested. The Fur Institute of Canada (FIC) has taken the lead role in this regard. Killing and restraining traps that have undergone testing and have met the AIHTS requirements and the certification status of these traps are outlined below and are also listed on the FIC web site: www.fur.ca.

Traps Meeting Requirements of the AIHTS  back to top

PHASE 1. Certified Traps to be regulated for use in Fall 2011:

Trapped in someone else's frame? Click here.

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