Trap Types: Current Status and Possible Changes
Regulated trapping is an effective, species-specific and humane way to manage wildlife for the benefit of people and wildlife populations. It can minimize human-wildlife conflicts, reduce impacts from non-native, invasive species, and help protect threatened and endangered species. Trapping also is used for relocating animals to restore populations in areas where conditions are suitable for the species to thrive. In addition, trapping allows for the regulated, sustainable harvest of animals for food and other uses. See an infographic about the uses of regulated trapping.
The FWC is evaluating existing rules and exploring possible changes that would modernize trapping rules to align with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ best management practices in support of effective, species-specific, humane trapping methods. Modern trapping practices and equipment prioritize animal welfare and are based on decades of scientific research and a commitment to providing trapper education. The following information shows Florida's current rules for the various types of traps as well as possible changes.
Trap Types
Foothold or Foot Enclosed
Devices designed to capture and hold an animal alive by the foot
Status
- Allowed only by special use permit provided under rule
- Special use permit eligibility is limited to certain users, consistent with FWC guidelines
Where Allowed
- Specified by permit
Trap Requirements
- Permit specific to include target species, location, duration, and reporting
- Traps must meet Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' best management practices criteria and foothold traps must have offset or padded jaws
- Traps must be inspected at least once every 24 hours
Education Requirements
- Taking the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ North American Basic Trapper Course is encouraged but not required
Reporting Requirements
- Limited data is collected from trappers
Status
- Would be allowed by rule (see requirements below)
Where Allowed
- Land
- Shall not be set within 300 feet of:
- A structure used as a residence or business, unless granted written permission by the structure owner or lessee
- A federal, state or county-maintained road, sidewalk, campground, picnic area, trail, boat ramp, or observation area, unless being set to capture nuisance wildlife or wildlife posing a risk to airport operation safety
- The legal property boundary where the trap is set, unless granted written permission by the adjacent landowner or lessee (this restriction does not apply to properties of 10 acres or more)
- Shall not be set within 30 feet of a carcass
- Must be anchored to ground or on a drag
- If set near water, it must be anchored so that the captured animal cannot drown
- No traps set where either captured animal or trap can get entangled in:
- Another trap
- Another captured animal
- Fence
- Exceptions:
- Airports
- Accredited captive wildlife facilities
- FWC-licensed game farm
- FWC-licensed hunting preserve
- Exceptions:
Trap Requirements
- Foothold trap maximum jaw spread is limited to 5.75” for species that the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' best management practices criteria allow for larger trap sizes
- Foothold traps must have smooth, offset jaws with at least a quarter (0.25) inch gap when the trap is closed or have manufacturer-installed padded jaws
- Foot-enclosing traps may have an opening up to 1.75" in diameter and must have a pull trigger only.
- Can be remotely monitored/checked as part of the 24-hour inspection rule
Registration Requirements
- Must have a no-cost Wildlife Trapping Permit
Education Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking a foothold or foot enclosed trap to take wildlife shall have successfully completed a foothold or foot enclosed-specific course and the FWC's trapping rules course.
- Persons born on or before June 1, 1975, will only be required to take the FWC trapping rules course.
Reporting Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking foothold traps is required to maintain a daily log and submit an annual report containing the following information:
- Trap types used
- Types and numbers of species captured
- General location (i.e., county)
- Disposition of captured animals
Purpose
- Provides clarity on allowed uses
- Limiting maximum jaw spread and requiring a quarter (0.25) inch gap when the trap is closed or have manufacturer-installed padded jaws on foothold traps reduces unintended (nontarget) animal captures
- Limiting opening on foot enclosed trap reduces unintended (nontarget) animal captures
- This trap type could be used by all those who have registered and completed the required training
Body Gripping
Devices designed to close on an animal’s head, neck, or torso and quickly kill it
Status
- Allowed only by special use permit provided under rule
- Special use permit eligibility is limited to certain users, consistent with FWC guidelines
Where Allowed
- Specified by permit
Trap Requirements
- Permit specific to include target species, location, duration, and reporting
- Permits require traps meet Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies' best management practices criteria
- Traps must be inspected at least once every 24 hours
- Trap must be submerged underwater
Education Requirements
- Taking the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ North American Basic Trapper Course is encouraged but not required
Reporting Requirements
- Limited data is collected from trappers
Status
- Would be allowed by rule (see requirements below)
Where Allowed
- Water only
- Shall not be set within 300 feet of:
- A structure used as a residence or business, unless granted written permission by the structure owner or lessee
- A federal, state or county-maintained road, sidewalk, campground, picnic area, trail, boat ramp, or observation area, unless being set to capture nuisance wildlife or wildlife posing a risk to airport operation safety
- The legal property boundary where the trap is set, unless granted written permission by the adjacent landowner or lessee (this restriction does not apply to properties of 10 acres or more)
- Must have an anchor chain attached to the ground
- Must be submerged in water at the time of set
Trap Requirements
- Maximum trap opening cannot exceed 10"
- Can be remotely monitored/checked as part of the 24-hour inspection rule
Registration Requirements
- Must have a no-cost Wildlife Trapping Permit
Education Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking a body-gripping trap to take wildlife shall have successfully completed a body-gripping trap-specific course and the FWC's trapping rules course.
- Persons born on or before June 1, 1975, will only be required to take the FWC trapping rules course.
Reporting Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking body gripping traps is required to maintain a daily log and submit an annual report containing the following information:
- Trap types used
- Types and numbers of species captured
- General location (i.e., county)
- Disposition of captured animals
Purpose
- Provides clarity on allowed uses
- Unintended (nontarget) animal captures would be reduced by:
- Limiting trap opening size
- Requiring traps to be submerged underwater at the time of set
- Restricting trap placement would reduce landowner/user conflicts
- This trap type could be used by all those who have registered and completed the required training
Snare
Status
- Allowed by rule
Where Allowed
- Land or water
Trap Requirements
- Must be inspected at least once every 24 hours.
Education Requirements
- Taking the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ North American Basic Trapper Course is encouraged but not required
Status
- Rule would prohibit snares that do not comply with the new requirements for cable restraints (see Cable Restraint below)
- Exception for use of powered foothold snare for hogs by additional permit
Purpose
- Use of cable restraints that comply with the new requirements would:
- Improve animal welfare by reducing injuries
- Reduce unintended (nontarget) animal captures and allow for the unharmed release or escape of nontarget animals
- Keep captured animals alive
Cable Restraint
Metal stranded cable devices consisting of a loop and relaxing lock designed to capture and hold an animal alive by a part of the body
Status
- Allowed by rule
Education Requirements
- Taking the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ North American Basic Trapper Course is encouraged but not required
Status
- Would be allowed by rule (see requirements below)
Where Allowed
- Land
- Shall not be set within 300 feet of:
- A structure used as a residence or business, unless granted written permission by the structure owner or lessee
- A federal, state or county-maintained road, sidewalk, campground, picnic area, trail, boat ramp, or observation area, unless being set to capture nuisance wildlife or wildlife posing a risk to airport operation safety
- The legal property boundary where the trap is set, unless granted written permission by the adjacent landowner or lessee (this restriction does not apply to properties of 10 acres or more)
- Shall not be set within 30 feet of a carcass
- Shall not be set in such a way that the captured animal or restraint device could become entangled in any part of a fence, pole, or rooted woody vegetation greater than 0.5” in diameter
- Exceptions to fence:
- Airports
- Accredited captive wildlife facilities
- FWC-licensed game farm
- FWC-licensed hunting preserve
- Exceptions to fence:
Trap Requirements
- Cannot be power assisted (unless permitted by additional permit for capturing nuisance coyotes in developed areas where setback provisions do not allow the use of cable restraints) and must consist of:
- A relaxing lock
- An inline swivel
- Stops that limit the minimum and maximum loop sizes to approximately 3” and 11”
- A 285 lbs. or less breakaway device in 7x7, 7x19, or 1x19 stranded metal cable and cannot exceed 6’ in length
- 1/8” diameter cable or less
- Can be remotely monitored/checked as part of the 24-hour inspection rule
Registration Requirements
- Must have a no-cost Wildlife Trapping Permit
Education Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking a cable restraint trap to take wildlife shall have successfully completed a cable restraint-specific course and the FWC's trapping rules course.
- Persons born on or before June 1, 1975, will only be required to take the FWC trapping rules course.
Reporting Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking cable restraint traps is required to maintain a daily log and submit an annual report containing the following information:
- Trap types used
- Types and numbers of species captured
- General location (i.e., county)
- Disposition of captured animals
Purpose
- Provides clarity/transparency on allowed uses
- Cable restraint features would:
- Improve animal welfare by reducing the possibility of animals being injured or killed while in the trap
- Reduce the chance of unintended (nontarget) animal captures
- Design characteristics that would make it a live capture tool
- Restricting trap placement would reduce:
- Unintended (nontarget) animal captures
- Injury or drowning of captured animal
- Landowner/user conflicts
Corral
Fully open-topped devices designed to capture an animal and hold it alive
Status
- Allowed by rule
Where Allowed
- Land
Trap Requirements
- Must be inspected at least once every 24 hours
Status
- Would be allowed by rule (see requirements below)
Where Allowed
- Land
Trap Requirements
- Rule would require that corral traps have a fully open top
- Overhang of 1 foot or jump bars would be allowed
- Can be remotely monitored/checked as part of the 24-hour inspection rule
Registration Requirements
- Must have a no-cost Wildlife Trapping Permit
Education Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking a corral trap to take wildlife shall have successfully completed a corral trap-specific course and the FWC's trapping rules course.
- Persons born on or before June 1, 1975, will only be required to take the FWC trapping rules course.
Purpose
- Provides clarity/transparency on allowed uses
- Requiring a fully open top would improve species selectivity by providing an exit for nontarget animals
Cage
Fully enclosed devices designed to capture an animal and hold it alive
Status
- Allowed by rule
Where allowed
- Land or water
Trap Requirements
- Must be inspected at least once every 24 hours
Education Requirements
- Taking the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ North American Basic Trapper Course is encouraged but not required
Status
- Would be allowed by rule (see requirements below)
Where Allowed
- Land
Trap Requirements
- Cage trap door cannot be larger than 20" in width and 28" in height - no restriction on cage width, height, or length
- Cage traps with doors larger than the dimensions above will be allowed only if they are equipped with remote monitoring and triggering mechanisms
- Cage traps not meeting the door dimensions or remote monitoring/triggering requirements can be modified to have a 24” by 24” opening in the top of the trap or to meet the requirements of corral traps
- All other cage traps not meeting the door dimensions, remote monitoring/triggering requirements, or modification above will be phased out 3 years after the rule goes into effect
- Can be remotely monitored/checked as part of the 24-hour inspection rule
Registration Requirements
- Must have a no-cost Wildlife Trapping Permit
- Exception for landowners/lessees using only one cage trap on their property to capture non-native species or wildlife that meet the nuisance wildlife definition.
- This is limited to regular-sized cage traps 20" in width and 28" in height.
- Landowners/lessees trapping recreationally with a single cage trap would still have to register.
Education Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking a cage trap to take wildlife shall have successfully completed a cage trap-specific course and the FWC's trapping rules course.
- Persons born on or before June 1, 1975, will only be required to take the FWC trapping rules course.
- Exception for landowners/lessees trapping on their own property.
- Using only one regular-sized (20" wide and 28" high) cage trap AND
- Attempting to capture non-native species OR
- Wildlife that meet the nuisance wildlife definition
Reporting Requirements
- Anyone setting or checking cage traps is required to maintain a daily log and submit an annual report containing the following information:
- Trap types used
- Types and numbers of species captured
- General location (i.e., county)
- Disposition of captured animals
Purpose
- Provides clarity on allowed uses
- Smaller cage door sizes or modification to tops of cage traps compared to what is currently allowed would reduce the chance of unintended (non-target) animal captures or allow non-targets to escape if captured
Glue Trap
Any device using natural or synthetic adhesive typically applied to cardboard, plastic trays, or similar material designed to catch and hold an animal alive, excluding devices designed to capture flies
Status
- Allowed by rule
Where Allowed
- Land
Status
- Would not be allowed outdoors by rule (see requirement below)
Where Allowed
- Prohibited outdoors
Trap Requirements
- Rule would prohibit use of glue traps outdoors
Purpose
- Provides clarity on allowed uses
- Reduces unintended (nontarget) captures
- Improves animal welfare