Wildlife authorities endorse the Canadian fur trade

Alberta | British Columbia | Inuit Tapirisat of Canada
Newfoundland & Labrador | Ontario | Saskatchewan | Quebec

Inuit Tapiriiksat Kanatami / Inuit Tapirisat of Canada
So the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is at it again, using its multi-million dollar publicity machine and sensationalist advertising to attack the livelihoods of Canadians living in remote regions. (Gazette, October 15th).

IFAW's recent attack vehicle ("Canadians Against the Commercial Seal Hunt") is cleverly named to obscure the fact that IFAW is a multinational corporation with a $43 million per year budget world-wide, while the "commercial" enterprise they are attacking is made up of a small-scale, fishing families and native Inuit hunters.

Another fact missing from this latest publicity barrage, is that IFAW's application for membership to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) was resoundingly rejected in Montreal last fall. Its application for membership in the world's most important conservation organisation had previously been rejected in 1994 by the IUCN Council. The arguments against accepting IFAW into the World Conservation Union focused on IFAW's aggressive campaigns to halt the sustainable use of wildlife.

I wonder how many of the notable Canadians signing IFAW's latest ad campaign were advised of these facts? For further information on the sustainable use of wildlife, contact Inuit Tapirisat of Canada.

Alberta Environmental Protection
Office of the Minister Responsible for Forests, Parks and Wildlife
Concerned citizens:

There has been much public concern expressed in recent years over the practices of the trapping industry and the use of wild furs in the production of fine clothing. Alberta Environment Protection would like to take this opportunity to assure the public that trapping in Alberta is a well-regulated industry that contributes meaningfully to the economy, particularly to the welfare of the province's northern residents, many of whom are of Aboriginal descent and are maintaining a traditional lifestyle.

Trappers in Alberta are licensed and their harvests carefully monitored by staff of Environmental Protection. Trappers themselves must comply with strict regulations and are required to register with the provincial government any fisher, wolverine, otter and lynx harvested to comply with management quotas. The most common animals taken by trappers, such as muskrat, beaver and coyote, are abundant in the wild and the harvest of fur poses no risk to their status. Alberta does not permit the trapping of species considered to be at risk and provides additional protection to all endangered species.

Alberta has also been among Canada's leaders in the development of humane trapping standards and research into improved trapping practices. Canada is signatory to the new agreement on international humane trapping standards; Alberta will implement the national standards adopted as a result of this agreement.

Government Of Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Forest Resources & Agrifoods
Inland Fish and Wildlife Division
To whom it may concern:

Many people have misconceptions about trapping and the use of wild furs. That's why the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, Inland Fish and Wildlife Division is taking this opportunity to let you know that regulated trapping plays an important role in the responsible management and conservation of wildlife and natural habitat. Please consider the following points.

• Fur is a natural product and a renewable resource. Also, meat from fur bearing animals is often used by trappers and their families.
• No endangered or threatened species may be hunted or used in the fur trade. These species are protected by provincial, federal and international laws.
• The fur-bearing species harvested in this province are abundant, and significant effort is directed at monitoring the populations of these species.
• The allocation of funds which are made available annually to manage and monitor furbearing and non game species exceeds the amount collected from license fees.
• Not just anyone can participate in trapping activities. A comprehensive 20 hour trapper education course must be successfully completed before a trapping license is issued to applicants.
• Trapping is rigorously controlled in Canada. Provincial and territorial regulations prevent excessive trapping and ensure the use of the best trapping systems available to enhance animals-welfare and conservation.
• All of society benefits - directly or indirectly - from well-regulated hunting and trapping. These activities help to maintain stable and healthy wildlife populations by removing access animals from a population so starvation, disease, habitat damage and overcrowding does not occur. Trapping also helps reduce damage to property while providing useful products for human use.
  

Ontario Fish & Wildlife Branch
Dear Fur Garment Owner:

Many people have misconceptions about fur trapping and the use of wild furs. That's why we're taking this opportunity to let you know that the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources supports regulated fur trapping for harvesting common species of furbearers. Consider the following points:

• Most of society benefits, either directly or indirectly, from trapping. These activities help reduce wildlife damage to human property, provide funds for wildlife management and conservation programs, provide products for human use and provide jobs.
• Trapping provides income, recreation and an outdoor lifestyle for many citizens through the use of a renewable natural resource. It is part of North American heritage. Trapping is often vital to the subsistence and self-sufficiency of people in remote regions who have few other economic alternatives.
• No endangered or threatened species are trapped. All such species are protected by international, national, and/or provincial laws.
• Furbearing populations are monitored by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. All twenty-two species that are trapped for their fur are abundant, and are responsible for the majority of the nuisance animal complaints that occur each year in Ontario. Many species like raccoon, beaver and coyote are near record levels of abundance.
• Trapping is highly regulated. These regulations prevent over harvesting and make sure that harvest methods are as humane as possible given the current technology. Regulations restrict the type and size of traps used, the frequency with which they are checked, and the time and places where trapping may occur. Trappers are required to successfully complete mandatory training courses. Regulations are enforced by specially trained Conservation Officers.
• Trapping occurs in the fall and winter to avoid the capture of newborns or mothers with dependent young.
• Trappers contribute to the more than $40 million raised annually to fund fish and wildlife conservation and management in Ontario through license fees and royalties paid to the province.

• Fur is a natural product and a renewable resource. Meat from furbearing animals and the use of by-products in arts and crafts are other benefits trapping provides.
• No endangered or threatened species may be hunted or used in the fur trade. These species are protected by provincial and federal laws as well as by international agreements.
• The 18 furbearing species used in Québec are abundant. The most commonly used species, including beaver, muskrat and raccoon, are more abundant now than they have ever been.
• Not just anyone can go trapping. A special training course must be successfully completed before a trapping licence is issued. 
•  Trapping is rigorously controlled in Canada. Provincial and territorial regulations prevent excessive trapping and ensure the use of the best trapping systems available to enhance animal-welfare and conservation. Regulations are enforced by specially trained wildlife conservation officers. 
•  All of society benefits - directly or indirectly - from well regulated hunting and trapping. These activities help to maintain stable and healthy wildlife populations, while reducing damage to property and providing useful products for human use.
  

There are often concerns expressed regarding the impact of trapping on furbearer populations and the degree to which humane standards are followed by trappers in Saskatchewan. That is why the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment is taking this opportunity to let you know that regulated trapping in this province plays an important role in the management and conservation of wildlife. Wear your fur garment proudly and never forget that:

● Fur is a natural product and a renewable resource. Meat from furbearing animals and the use of by-products in arts and crafts are other benefits trapping provides.

● No endangered or threatened species may be hunted or used in the fur trade. These species are protected by provincial and federal laws as well as by international agreements.

● The 10 most commonly trapped furbearing species in Saskatchewan are abundant. The most commonly used species, including beaver, muskrat and coyote, are more abundant now than they have ever been.

● Not just anyone can go trapping. A special training course must be successfully completed before a trapping licence is issued.

● Trapping is rigorously controlled in Canada. Provincial and territorial regulations prevent excessive trapping and ensure the use of the best trapping systems available to enhance animal-welfare and conservation. Regulations are enforced by specially