Ontario changes trapping regulations; denies access to trap research

A picture of a coyote in a winter landscape
A western coyote (Canis latrans) in a winter landscape.
Photo by wsebastian / Getty Images

Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has issued a decision notice on a proposal to amend trapping regulations regarding neck snares.

In its 2024 consultation ERO 019-8017, the ministry proposed the following two changes to trapping regulations regarding snares:

  1. Increase the breakaway device rating from 122.5kg or less to 158.8kg or less.
  2. Decrease the minimum cable loop diameter from 8.9cm to 6.4cm.

The ministry will proceed with change #1, noting that: “This change is expected to increase the effectiveness of RCRs for trapping target animals while maintaining the functionality to allow large non-target species (e.g. livestock, deer) to break the device and escape unharmed.”

The ministry will not proceed with change #2, noting that: “The Ministry will not proceed with decreasing the minimum cable loop diameter from 8.9 cm to 6.4 cm at this time. Further research is required to inform any potential future change to the minimum loop specifications.”

The Fur-Bearers opposed both changes on the grounds that the ministry did not provide sufficient information to support either of the proposed changes, and that the ministry’s previous research suggests that decreasing the cable loop diameter could result in negative animal welfare outcomes. We are pleased that the ministry did not proceed with decreasing the minimum loop diameter. We continue to oppose the use of snares as these devices result in significant animal suffering for both wild and domestic animals.

Thank you to everyone who submitted comments to this consultation. 228 formal comments were received, with many of the responses firmly rejecting the use of neck snares in Ontario. A statement on the decision notice page reads:

"The feedback received that did not support the proposal cited concerns including: RCRs not being certified traps under the Agreement on International Humane trapping Standards (AIHTS), interest in reviewing research findings referenced in the posting, general opposition of the use of killing and restraining snares, and preference for other non-lethal and preventative conflict management actions by farmers."

Ministry denies access to trapping research

A major issue in this public consultation is that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry did not provide sufficient evidence to support the regulatory changes. The ministry referenced ‘research findings’ in its consultation, but it did not provide these findings to the public or to The Fur-Bearers upon request.

In 2024, The Fur-Bearers submitted a freedom of information request for the research findings. The ministry again denied access to the research, stating that it is ‘third party information.’ As these research findings were used to support a public consultation to inform regulatory changes, The Fur-Bearers believes that the ministry has a responsibility to disclose the records.

The Fur-Bearers has submitted an appeal to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario over the ministry’s refusal to provide access to the research findings. The appeal is currently under review, and we will provide updates when available.

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