How to Enjoy Safe Pet-Friendly Adventures During Ontario’s Fur Trapping Season
There are few settings as magical and peaceful as the crisp air and calm stillness of winter in Ontario. However, there is an often-overlooked risk beneath the beauty of our favourite snow-covered trails and frozen lakes – fur trapping season.
While fur trapping is a long-standing tradition in our province, many modern adventurers aren’t familiar with the unique risks it poses for our adventure-loving pets.
In this post, I will share the very real and potentially devastating consequences of trapping for our beloved travel buddies. Plus, we’ll discuss the steps you can take to enjoy this winter wonderland while keeping your pets safe.
After all, the first step to safety is always awareness!
Understanding Fur Trapping in Ontario
Before focusing on the potential impact of fur trapping on your pet, I want to start with a few basics to better understand the practice.
Fur trapping has played a pivotal role in the shaping of our province, dating back to the Indigenous peoples who first occupied these lands. Throughout history, it has provided access to basic necessities like food and clothing.
In the early days of European exploration, it was a driving force for settlers to grow and shape the landscape of the province as we know it today (both the good and the bad).
Today, fur trapping continues to be practiced across much of the province, supporting local economies and contributing to wildlife management.
While the exact dates of the legal fur trapping season will vary based on the species and area, it can start as early as September 15 and last into May in some situations.
Today, several new rules and restrictions are in place to ensure that the practice is as humane as possible and as safe as possible (for those involved and the general public), and it is monitored to enforce all requirements.
Licensed trappers are allowed to trap wildlife on:
- Crownland (regulated by the ministry)
- Conservation reserves and some provincial parks (regulated by the ministry
- Private land (controlled by private landowners and municipalities)
Therefore, if you are exploring the great outdoors in any of these areas, it is your responsibility to be aware of the dangers and take necessary precautions.
What Dangers Could This Pose for My Adventure-Loving Pet?
Despite the many rules in place to prevent accidents, the potential dangers posed by fur traps when camping or hiking with pets during the winter months cannot be ignored.
If your pet becomes entrapped in a snare or trap, it could lead to serious, long-lasting, or potentially fatal injuries, including broken bones and deep wounds.
Keep in mind that many of these traps are designed to quickly and humanely kill the animals they are trapping. But the trap itself won’t differentiate between a coyote or muskrat and your pet.
Not to mention the long-term psychological impact of the stress and trauma.
Luckily, by understanding the rules surrounding licensed trapping and prioritizing safety during your adventures, you can significantly reduce the risk of an accident.
How to Keep Your Pet Safe During Fur Trapping Season
The only guaranteed way to prevent emergencies 100% is to stay home and never adventure out anyway. We all accept that risk as outdoor travellers.
However, there are many precautions we can take to reduce the risk of trouble and keep our pets (and ourselves) safe.
Here are a few steps to take during Ontario’s fur-trapping season:
Stay Aware When Outdoors
Anytime you are adventuring outdoors, stay aware of your surroundings.
Watch for signs you may be in an ideal trapping area, such as:
- Game trails
- Water sources
- Areas with dense vegetation
You can also watch for signs of other life in the area, like scat and animal tracks. These signs also tell trappers that animals are in the area.
Work on Recall Training
Before allowing your pet off-leash, ensure they have a solid recall and understanding of appropriate trail behaviour.
This means not only coming when called but also knowing not to wander off out of sight or chase wildlife if they do encounter a critter along the way.
Traps aren’t going to be set on marked trails. But as soon as your pet wanders off the trail, they are at risk of coming across a set trap.
Even more concerning, they could come across a trap while out of your sight, meaning you may not even know that they have gotten into trouble or where to find them if you hear them call for help.
When in Doubt, Leash Up
Of course, if you’re in an area with set leash laws, like any of the Ontario Parks, your pet should be on leash the whole time.
We are firm believers in following leash laws, and this is a good example of why that’s important.
However, even if you are exploring private property or where pets are permitted off-leash, keeping the leash on may still be in your pet’s best interest.
You can still use a long line to maintain control while giving your pet plenty of freedom to explore.
This is particularly important in the following cases:
- You have a pet who isn’t 100% reliable on recall or is still in training
- You have a pet who likes to wander, even if they do check in regularly
- You have a pet who has a high prey drive/tends to chase critters
Adventuring on a leash won’t ruin your pet’s experience, but a potentially life-threatening emergency will.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
Are you planning an adventure to an area where there is the potential for trapping, but you’re not sure?
Whether you plan on exploring private property or an Ontario Park that may possibly be used for trapping purposes, you can quickly find out how much you need to worry by asking!
You can also research local regulations to better understand your risk on Crownland and other municipally regulated lands.
Note: While everything we are sharing here is related to legal/licensed trapping, there is also a risk you will come across an illegal trap. Don’t assume the risk is 0 because you are told there are no legal trapping operations.
Keep Your Pet Secured when Winter Camping
Some campers may be tempted to be a little more lax with the rules when winter camping with their pets because there are fewer people they will encounter.
But following the rules for other campers is only one of the many reasons a well-secured campsite is important.
Whether your pet is hanging out at the site or in your tent/RV, take steps to prevent them from escaping – even if they are generally well-behaved.
It only takes one time when your pet takes off after a temptation, like a critter in the woods, for them to come across a trap and land themselves in BIG trouble.
We usually use exercise pens in the summer, but setting them up in the snow can be more hassle than they are worth.
Instead, during our winter camping trips, we opt to keep our pets on leash the whole time.
Better safe than sorry!
What Do I Do if My Pet is Caught in a Trap?
Even if you take every possible precaution, there is still a possibility of your pet encountering a trap. They are called “accidents” for a reason.
If you discover your pet caught in a trap, stay calm and assess the situation. Your pet is counting on you.
When possible, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center or licensed trapper. They have the experience and equipment to safely release your pet from a trap without causing any further injury.
If you are in a situation where reaching someone or bringing someone in to help isn’t possible, the following video from The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals explains how to free your pet from a trap carefully:
Once free from the trap, seek immediate veterinary care, even if your pet appears to be doing okay.
This is also a great example of why carrying a fully stocked pet-friendly first aid kit is essential when adventuring.
This would provide you with essential items like bandages and an emergency muzzle to address any immediate concerns and allow you to get your pet to help.
Prioritize Safety During Fur Trapping Season
The existence of fur trapping doesn’t have to keep you from spending time outdoors with your pet, but it also shouldn’t be overlooked or downplayed.
When planning your next adventure, take time to consider the location and what risks you may encounter. This includes familiarizing yourself with the different traps and how to free your pet in an emergency, if necessary.
After all, the first step to safety is always awareness!
Before heading out, take a moment to record essential emergency numbers, including a wildlife rehabilitation center or licensed trapper and an emergency vet clinic in the area.
Additionally, you should double-check your pet-friendly first aid kit to ensure it’s fully stocked before any outdoor adventure.
Let’s all prioritize our pets’ safety and enjoy the beauty of winter in Ontario with our beloved pets by our sides!
Have you ever considered the risks of fur trapping to your pet? If not, what steps will you take to protect your pet from danger on your upcoming adventures?
