The National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) is the world’s premier system of public lands set aside for the protection of wildlife, fish and plants. The NWRS’s stated mission is “to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” Refuges are intended to be safe havens for wildlife.

Yet the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) permits trapping within the refuge system.

Conibear traps, and steel-jaw leghold traps— are inhumane and inherently nonselective. They injure and kill countless nontarget animals annually, including endangered and threatened species, and even family pets. Conibear traps, and steel-jaw leghold traps— are inhumane and inherently nonselective. They injure and kill countless nontarget animals annually, including endangered and threatened species, and even family pets.

The value and importance of conserving species and ensuring biodiversity is an accepted axiom of the 21st century. Thus it’s not surprising that close to 90 countries have banned the use of traps. The United States, however, is not among this list. These barbaric hunting tools are still allowed in our country and on federal refuge lands intended to protect and conserve our nation’s wildlife.

These traps are indiscriminate, inhumane, and their use in a refuge is simply intolerable.

The Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (H.R. 2016/S. 1081) was introduced in both the US House of Representatives and the Senate by Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and needs support in order to pass.

Please ask your Senators and U.S. Representative to cosponsor the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act today!

Thank you!