Trappers are officially outlawed in California

Trappers, mythical figures of far-west, it is now finished in California. The state has just officially banned this activity which has, in the process, decimated a number of fur species, such as wolves and otters.

However, the law on the protection of wildlife signed Wednesday by Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom still allows the installation of traps for pests (rats, moles, etc.), especially to preserve agricultural crops. But it prohibits the use of trapper traps for "commercial or recreational use" on public or private land.

It's true! CA is now the first state to ban fur trapping. https://t.co/lAx89MJ4ZQ

– Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 4, 2019

Animals killed for their fur

The purpose of this law is explicitly "to ensure that mammalian species in California are not commercially exploited for their fur," which generally means that animals are trapped and then strangled or beaten to death so as not to damage their coat. . While describing these practices as "cruel", the Democratic representative who brought this law, Lorena Gonzalez, however put forward a financial argument to promote it.

Fur trapping is a cruel practice that has no place in 21st century California. Thank you @CAgovernor for signing our # AB273 to practice this state in the world

– Lorena (@LorenaSGonzalez) September 4, 2019

Thus, only 68 trappers were active in California in 2017 and the product of their catches is largely insufficient to finance the regulation of this activity by the Office of Fisheries and Wildlife, as the law requires. Of the 1,568 animals trapped that year (gray foxes, coyotes, beavers, especially badgers), 1,241 were declared for sale, for a total estimated income of less than 9,000 dollars (about 8,100 euros). It would not even cover "a fraction of the costs of a single gamekeeper" and would "de facto subsidize" trapping, the law says. Elected officials are also studying the possibility of banning all sales of furs in the state, including for clothing.