NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3467
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the use of leg-gripping traps
PURPOSE:
To prohibit the use of wildlife leg-gripping traps.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section one amends subdivisions 5 and 6 of 11-1101 of the environmental
conservation law.
Section two amends subdivision 7 of section 11-1901 of the environmental
conservation law. Section three amends subdivision 9 of section 11-1903
of the environmental conservation law. Section four sets forth the
effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
Wildlife trapping is an activity licensed by the New York State Depart-
ment of Environmental Conservation. The state license allows individuals
to trap forbearing animals, such as beavers, raccoons, foxes and coyotes
to produce fur products. Despite the availability of more humane alter-
natives, such as box or cage traps, many trappers still use steel leg-
gripping traps, also known as foothold traps. These traps are triggered
by springs once an animal steps onto the trap, quickly clamping onto
their limb and holding them in place until they are discovered by the
trapper. In some regions of New York State, it may be up to 48 hours
before a trapper checks on a trap. Animals caught in leg-gripping traps
are immobilized, and therefore are unable to move, eat or drink, care
for their young or defend themselves from predators. In some cases,
animals have even been discovered chewing off their trapped limb in
order to escape. The American Veterinary Medical Association is opposed
to their use.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: A.8733 - Referred to Environmental Conservation
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect in 30 days.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3467
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 26, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL, DINOWITZ, GOTTFRIED -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to
prohibiting the use of leg-gripping traps
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivisions 5 and 6 of section 11-1101 of the environ-
2 mental conservation law, subdivision 6 as amended by chapter 47 of the
3 laws of 1975, subparagraph (b) of paragraph b of subdivision 6 as
4 amended by chapter 911 of the laws of 1990, and paragraph a of subdivi-
5 sion 6 as amended and paragraph c of such subdivision as added by chap-
6 ter 605 of the laws of 1991, are amended to read as follows:
7 5. Except as provided in subdivision 1 or 2 of section 11-0523 with
8 respect to destructive and menacing wildlife, no person shall (a) set or
9 use a trap of the leg-gripping type [having teeth in the jaws]; (b) set
10 a trap so that wildlife when caught is suspended; (c) use, locate or set
11 a snare or a device consisting of a noose of any material whereby an
12 animal may be taken.
13 6. a. No person shall set or use a trap of the leg-gripping type [(a)
14 having a spread of jaws exceeding 7 1/4" measured at right angles to the
15 axis upon which the jaws operate and excluding the gripping surface of
16 each jaw, when used under water during the open season for trapping
17 beaver or otter, or (b) in any other case], except as provided in title
18 5 or in section 11-1109[, having a spread of jaws exceeding 5-3/4" as so
19 measured].
20 b. No person shall set or use a body gripping type trap with a dimen-
21 sion of more than 7-1/2 inches except:
22 (a) when used in water during the open season for trapping beaver and
23 otter; or
24 (b) as further permitted by the department by regulation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00937-01-1
A. 3467 2
1 The dimension of the body gripping trap shall be ascertained when the
2 trap is set in the extreme cocked position and shall be the maximum
3 distance between pairs of contacting body gripping surfaces except for
4 rectangular devices which shall be the maximum perpendicular distance
5 between pairs of contacting body gripping surfaces.
6 [c. Traps of the leg-gripping type having a spread of jaws exceeding
7 4" measured as described in paragraph a of this subdivision, when set on
8 land (excluding traps originally set in water) (a) shall be covered at
9 the time the trap is set or visited; if the trap becomes uncovered after
10 it is set the covering shall be replaced at the time the trap is visit-
11 ed; coverings shall include but not be limited to soil, sand, leaves,
12 needles, other plant materials, and other substances as permitted by
13 department regulation; such substances shall completely cover the jaws
14 of the trap, and (b) shall be equipped with a pan tensioning device
15 which shall include but not be limited to a bolt and nut, notches
16 grooved in the pan and dog or lever, sheer pins, a spring under the pan
17 or strip of band steel, or other devices or modifications as permitted
18 by regulation of the department.]
19 § 2. Subdivision 7 of section 11-1901 of the environmental conserva-
20 tion law, as amended by chapter 351 of the laws of 1975, is amended to
21 read as follows:
22 7. On the licensed premises the licensee may take any unprotected wild
23 bird, or any predatory wildlife except, protected birds, disturbing
24 domestic game. Such birds or wildlife may be taken at any time and in
25 any manner, except that no trap of the leg-gripping type[, having teeth
26 in the jaws or having a greater spread of jaws than six inches,] shall
27 be used for such purpose, nor shall a trap be set so that any wildlife
28 when caught shall be suspended. Carcasses of such birds or wildlife
29 shall be immediately buried or cremated, except that carcasses of unpro-
30 tected wildlife, and of protected wildlife other than birds if taken
31 during their respective open seasons, may be possessed, transported,
32 bought and sold to the extent permitted by section 11-0917.
33 § 3. Subdivision 9 of section 11-1903 of the environmental conserva-
34 tion law, as amended by chapter 351 of the laws of 1975, is amended to
35 read as follows:
36 9. On the premises described in the application for the license, the
37 licensee may take any unprotected wild birds, or any predatory wildlife
38 except protected birds, disturbing domestic game. Such birds or wildlife
39 may be taken at any time and in any manner, except that no trap of the
40 leg-gripping type[, having teeth in the jaws or having a greater spread
41 of jaws than six inches,] shall be used for such purpose, nor shall a
42 trap be set so that any wildlife when caught shall be suspended.
43 Carcasses of such birds or wildlife shall be immediately buried or
44 cremated, except that carcasses of unprotected wildlife, and of
45 protected wildlife other than birds if taken during their respective
46 open seasons, may be possessed, transported, bought and sold to the
47 extent permitted by section 11-0917.
48 § 4. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
49 have become a law.
