Although the government…

Although the government claims these changes will promote humane trapping and help manage wildlife conflicts, they carry serious risks that cannot be ignored. Expanding trapping and allowing more methods for killing increases the risk of suffering for both target and non-target species. Even with supposedly humane traps, animals can experience pain, stress, or prolonged injury. The proposed changes weaken protections for furbearing mammals and set a dangerous precedent that economic gains outweigh animal protection.

These changes also threaten Ontario’s ecosystems. Beavers are keystone species whose dams create wetlands that support biodiversity, regulate water flow, and improve water quality. Permitting their removal on Crown land during the closed season (e.g. May-August) could destroy habitats, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt natural water systems, with long-term ecological consequences. At the same time, reducing reporting requirements for fur dealers would erode transparency and make it harder to ensure that trapping practices comply with humane and environmental standards.