Trapping

Trapping, the capture of animals by means of a physical system or device. A trap may be designed to kill, injure, or preserve the captured animal; those that use nooses are also known as snares. Frequently the trap makes use of a lure such as food (including live animals) or—particularly for insects—a species-specific sexual attractant. Animals are trapped for hide, fur, and meat; because they are considered pests or dangers; because they are wanted as scientific specimens or for exhibition in zoos; because they must be moved from one area to another; or simply for sport.

Since prehistoric times humans have developed a wide range of traps, and such devices continue to be used by cultures throughout the world. They offer the advantage of capturing dangerous prey at less risk to the hunter; more importantly, most traps are designed to operate without attendance, enabling a number of traps to be set at once over a large area. This has been particularly advantageous to trappers seeking fur and hides to barter or sell. With the colonization of the New World, trapping for fur became a large-scale commercial enterprise, abating only with the development of animal farms for breeding popular fur-bearing species (see Fur Industry). In the 20th century, trapping enterprises and activities have come under increasing attack for ecological reasons: The killing of too many predator “pests” is considered to upset the balance of nature, and a number of fur-bearing animals are classified as endangered species. Thus, in the U.S., state laws variously determine when certain species may be trapped, and in what numbers; and the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 banned the trapping of animals on the endangered list, as well as the importation of such animals or their products.

Because each species has its different behaviors, the variety of traps is almost endless. They may be loosely classified, however, according to whether they are designed to capture animals without harming them, to capture at some risk of injury, or to kill. Noninjuring traps can take the form of nets, camouflaged pits (although stakes may also be placed in such pits to kill large prey), corrals, or enclosing traps whose door the animal triggers when entering. An enclosing trap may also have a funnel entrance that the animal can pass through easily in one direction only.

Traps that capture at some risk of injury are primarily of the kind that snap shut when the animal steps on them, grasping it with steel jaws. No matter how carefully the force of the trap is gauged, the animal may injure itself trying to escape or may even gnaw off the trapped limb. Snares may also choke an animal. For this reason some states in the U.S. ban such traps. Killing traps include the mousetrap and other devices designed to crush or choke, the design depending on the animal to be exterminated. For insect traps, see Pest Control.

The use of traps is not confined to humans. Throughout the animal kingdom, many kinds of species have evolved the use of traps and lures for prey; for two outstanding examples, see Antlion; Spider. See also Insectivorous Plants.