The discovery that "snap-traps" and even a conibear were used in Waterloo Region is prompting local humane society officials to warn residents against using them to deal with nuisance wildlife.
Director, Community Engagement & Outreach with the Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford-Perth, Calla James, says in one of the cases a racoon tried to flee with the trap still attached and got caught in a fence.
"When our officer attended and removed the trap from the animal, it had sustained such serious injuries -- it had amputated a limb -- that it had to be humanely euthanized," James explained.
A snap trap found in Waterloo Region. Photo courtesy of the Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford-Perth.
James says many municipalities and the province have strict rules about who is allowed to use "body-gripping" traps.
"Possession and use of those body-gripping traps including the conibear trap that we saw and even some of the snap traps, they are very, very strictly regulated," she warned. "And in a lot of cases qualified and licensed individuals are the only ones that can possess and use those types of traps."
In order to educate the public, the Humane Society put out a wildlife resource guide that includes links to humane animal control companies.
"Say you think there is an animal in your attic or there is an animal that is finding access into an out building like a shed or a detached garage," said James. "We always recommend that you call a humane wildlife control company. Those types of companies will come out an identify how animals are getting in. They will humanely remove them from the site."
You can find the resource guide on the Humane Society of Kitchener-Waterloo and Stratford-Perth's website.