Trapping

Animal trapping, or simply trapping or ginning, is the use of a device to remotely catch and often kill an animal. Animals may be trapped for a variety of purposes, including for meat, fur/feathers, sport hunting, pest control, and wildlife management. Among trapping methods, some are considered relatively humane while others are seen as excessively cruel. Laws in the European Union and many U.S. states ban inhumane traps such as foothold traps, and instead promote body-grip traps, which kill animals quickly and are therefore regarded as more humane. All traps, whether for capture or killing, must be checked at least every 24 hours, and humane guidelines recommend more frequent checks and, where possible, the use of monitoring devices that alert when a trap is triggered. Because improper trapping can cause severe animal suffering and pose risks to pets, wildlife, and humans, specialized certification programs train professionals in humane and safe pest management.