I am not seeing any of the…

I am not seeing any of the research findings referenced here. As a biologist, I need to see the actual data so I can make informed comments. Why are the research findings not presented here? Has this research been peer-reviewed?

Trapping laws and regulations must be based on solid, current, peer-reviewed science. I see no transparent evidence here that these changes are so based.

It seems to me that proposing to increase the breakaway device rating from 122.5kg or less to 158.8kg or less and decrease the minimum cable loop diameter from 8.9cm to 6.4cm would result in more animals being trapped since an animal would have to be heavier to escape and smaller animals would be caught than under the current snare specs. If that is the case, I am opposed. The proposed changes seem to benefit the needs/wants of trappers at the expense of animal welfare.

Trapping laws and regulations must put animal welfare first and foremost. They must not be based on vested-interest guidelines created and promoted by the commercial fur industry.

Research has clearly indicated that both killing and restraining snares negatively impact the welfare of both target and non-target species and so they should not be used at all.

Not only that, but snares are NOT certified traps under the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards, to which Canada is a signatory. Canada must honour its commitments to this agreement and ban these devices, as many countries around the world have already done.

Non-lethal farming practices should be followed to address conflicts with predators rather than using snares and other trapping or killing methods. Research demonstrates that these non-lethal methods are far more effective at reducing wildlife-livestock conflicts.