2024 Canadian Coyote Trappers Trap Fundraiser

Updated Nov 6 – 2024

Greetings! I am Marty Senneker, a trapper from Alberta and I am desiring to raise funds to test a variety of modified traps in an attempt to pass the Canadian Standards process to determine if they will qualify for use in Canada under the AIHTS. Currently the Fur Institute of Canada has offered manufacturers, retailers, and/or interested parties a special offer to economically test traps for coyote. The window is short. Currently funds are required by November 1, 2024.

In 1991, the European Union initiated a law that would ban leghold traps in Europe as well as ban the importation of wild fur from countries that continued to use traps deemed as such. Since that time, a set of standards was developed, specifically the Agreement of International Trap Standards (AIHTS) which gained recognition by the ISO, which is an internationally accepted non-governmental body, namely the International Organization for Standardization. These standards obligated Canada to implement the use of recognized humane traps only, that being traps which would pass intense the criteria set out in the process As it is now 2024, it is what it is, the Canadian government and trappers all have legal obligations to live under.

Most species of Canadian furbearers have had numerous traps pass the standards process, however the coyote and related traps have fallen behind. Very few traps have passed over the years for coyote while the standard/process was in development for the testing of restraining devices for this species. Initially, Canadian and American test data was to be shared but it was later decided that Canadian data only would be considered. The problem has been recently further complicated due to the Woodstream Corporation discontinuing it’s manufacture of animal traps, of which included three models of restraining traps for coyote that had passed the standards process. Thus, at this time the Canadian trappers need more options for coyote restraining traps.

This Go-Fund-Me fundraiser has been initiated in hopes of raising funds to have a number of humane restraining traps, specifically for coyote, tested by the Fur Institute of Canada to determine if the devices submitted will pass the international trap standards.

The Fur Institute of Canada has offered trap manufacturers and trapping supply companies and other parties to submit traps that they would like to see tested at a one-time-special rate. Traps that are to be tested under this special offer must fall within specific parameters to ensure that within this offer/process, nobody is wasting money or time and other such precious resources in this effort.

The FIC offer was initiated in the spring of 2024, but to date and to the best of my knowledge, no trap company, trap retailer, nor organization or individual has submitted any traps for this offer. The offer is currently set to expire Nov 1, 2024 so if we are to fundraise this, we need to step up and get this done quickly.

The Canadian trappers currently have a grand opportunity to take the bull by the horns and submit traps to the FIC to be tested to determine if such traps will or can pass the standard, and it is my intention to help the Canadian trappers achieve this.

Much testing has been done in both the USA and Canada over the past quarter century, much has been learned about what comprises a restraining trap for it to be deemed humane under the stringent AIHTS process.

Costs – Trap Models – Modification

The current offer on the table is to test traps at a rate of $700 per trap model, and traps will be tested as the FIC’s independent contractor has time and resources to do so. It is my desire to raise enough money to submit as many as 15 traps as listed below. Each of these traps must be offset and double laminated or have padded jaws, among other established criteria such as spring power, anchoring point, etc.

Originally it was my hope that the traps being tested would be provided by the trap manufacturers, however, surely the Canadian trappers could step up and purchase the traps and not impose on the manufacturers to provide free traps. I hope the Canadian trappers understand that in the past the manufacturers have invested a great deal of monies in Canada for trap research with varying amount of success/failure and may be weary of investing more money in Canada for such purpose. Let’s not burden them this time, can you join me and we foot the bill? If not, I will ask the manufacturers to donate the traps if it becomes necessary.

In addition to testing fees and potential purchasing of traps, we will incur welding/modification charges in addition to shipping, brokerage, taxes as well as unforeseen costs.

I have asked several individuals who are not associated with myself or my business to provide financial oversight to this venture and ensure responsible/proper spending of the finances of this fundraising venture. They are Bill Abercrombie of Alberta (President of Alberta Trappers Association) and Tim Killey of British Columbia (Past President of the British Columbia Trappers Association), and Lori-Jean Edwards of Alberta (Finance Chief & Information Officer of the Alberta Conservation Association), thus there will be proper, even qualified financial oversight and accountability to this small fundraising project! Let it be known that these individuals are donating their time to this project to do so.

This traps that I wish to submit for testing come from this list, but are not limited to this list, I hope/plan to submit:

#3 Bridger Offset 4 coil, double laminated with factory offset instead of 5/16” offset ***

No-BS KO K-9 Xtreme 4 coil, double laminated

No-BS KO K-9 Xtreme Jr 4 coil, double laminated

No-BS Extreme Rubber Jaw 4 coil

No-BS Extreme JR Rubber Jaw 4 coil

#3 Bridger Dogless offset, 4 coil, double laminated

#2 Bridger Dogless offset, 4 coil, double laminated

#2 Bridger Offset , 4 coil, double laminated

#3 Bridger Rubber Jaw - 4 coil

#2 Bridger Rubber Jaw - 4 coil

#4 Bridger Longspring, double laminated

#3 Alpha 4 coil Modified

#2 Alpha 4 coil Modified

** Note some change of traps from original list

*** (FIC will pay for the testing of this model of trap and requiring this trap to be tested first. )

If a surplus of money is raised, wolf traps will be submitted in the following FIC fiscal year as follows:

#5 Bridger Dogless - modified if necessary

#9 Bridger Brawn Offset, Double Laminated

NO-BS K.O. Xtreme Wolf JR Trap – modified if necessary

Notice this is not exhaustive list of traps to test of what is currently available that could be tested. The emphasis of this trap testing offer is for either double laminated traps or rubber padded traps as the FIC has had some success with traps that were originally tested in such manner. The laminated traps must have a minimum aggregate face width of 15.0 mm meaning most traps to be tested will have both inside and outside lamination strips comprised of one 3/16” plus one ¼’ rod/strip. Padded traps will be tested as provided from manufacturer unless some obvious minor upgrade is determined for the trap to qualify.

This FIC offer is not limited to laminated and padded jaw traps, however at this time and according to FIC protocols, steel faced trap jaws must be 15.0 mm wide, including radius edges of jaws and/or lamination strips. Unfortunately to my knowledge, there are no cast jaw traps on the market that have such a width, even though there are numerous cast jaw traps on the market that are beautifully constructed and that arguably hold as humanely or better than a double laminated trap. The padded traps have their own separate specs tha t must be met to qualify.

Preference in trap selection on the provided list is given to traps that 1- stand the greatest chance at passing and 2- are the most useful/efficient traps available.

Let it be known that square jaw traps have been exclusively chosen for testing in the coilspring style traps. The reason for this is that they are easiest for the user to modify. Round jaw traps are capable of being modified as well and in the case of the one longspring trap on my list, will be double laminated and tested if we have sufficient funds to do so.

As per Go-Fund-Me rules allow, money will be withdrawn as needed for the project, and if so, the $-meter will not diminish but will continue to show all of the funds that have come in in total. Thus as monies come in, traps will be submitted to the FIC for testing and costs covered as we go.

Canadian trappers, let’s do this and get it done!

Plan to Execute Funds and Rough Budget

There is a total of 15 traps to test on this list. In the event that one or several of the traps on my proposed list do not qualify for testing and do not meet the specifications for testing as presented by the FIC, an alternate trap or traps will be selected to test.

In the event that I end up spending less than funds raised, I will either submit more traps to the FIC if they allow or move the excess funds to trap testing restraining traps for wolf. I originally hoped that we could use surplus funds to submit traps for lynx/bobcat testing, however, no testing protocol has yet been established to submit traps under. A new protocol must be established by the FIC, likely costing $50,000 +/- thus this needs to happen first. If we run out of traps to test, then the excess funds will be donated to the participating provincial trapper associations across the country of provinces that have donated to this endeavor. In the unlikely event of unforeseen circumstances that prohibit fully moving forward with the project and plans for excess monies, whatever monies that have not been spent on the project that remain, likewise will be donated to the trapper associations that have participated in donating to the fundraiser for the purpose of future trap testing; the financial oversight committee would be consulted and we would make a decision at that time if it was decided that there was no way forward.

Approximate costs/expenditures will be as follow:

(in Canadian Dollars)

Cost of Traps for Purchase

- $ 450.00*

* Most traps have been donated

Shipping/Brokerage/Tax

- $ 1190.00

Welding/Modification/Parts

- $ 200.00*

* Most welding his being donated

Fur Institute of Canada, $700 x 15 Traps

- $ 10,500.00

Go-Fund-Me Service Fees/Charges

- $ 477.75

TOTAL FUNDS DESIRED

- $ 12,817.50