Trapper

A trapper is a person who captures wildlife using traps and sometimes snares, typically for fur, food, or population management. Trapping has been practiced for centuries and became a major economic activity in the fur trade, particularly in North America during the 18th to 19th centuries.

Historically, trappers—often called fur trappers or beaver trappers—worked in remote wilderness and interacted with Indigenous communities and explorers. The beaver decline and the fur trade led to changes in trapping practices and wildlife management. Today, trapping is regulated in many places to conserve species and minimize suffering.

Trapping methods involve foothold traps, body-gripping traps, snares, and cage traps tailored to target species. Sets may use bait or lure and rely on knowledge of animal behavior. Trappers follow safety protocols, and many places require permits, training, and adherence to seasons and trap types.

Legal frameworks govern trapping, including licensing, seasons, humane standards, and inspection requirements. Regulations aim to reduce bycatch and protect non-target species, with evolving designs and ethics influencing practice.

In modern contexts, trapping supports fur production in some regions and wildlife management or nuisance control in others. The term also applies to people who remove nuisance animals. The practice varies by region, culture, and regulatory environment.