By Nick Engelfried
Imagine being caught by the leg in a pair of steel jaws that cut through muscle down to the bone. No matter how you twist and turn in a desperate attempt to escape, there is no way out. You remain trapped, writhing in agony as the metal tears at your flesh, waiting helplessly for your fate.

This nightmare is a brutal reality for millions of wild animals caught in traps and killed for their fur every year. From beavers to bobcats, and coyotes to muskrats, countless mammals valued for their pelts die slow, torturous deaths in body-crushing or leghold traps. Not only is this inhumane, but it also removes species that play vital roles in ecosystems.

Even compared to other forms of hunting, traps that leave animals to die slowly and in pain are extraordinarily cruel. Yet the trapping industry continues to use these practices, with North America killing more wild animals annually than any other region in the world. In many U.S. states, trapping is barely regulated, and some species have no limits at all on the number that may be killed each year. These archaic methods persist as remnants of a time when wild animals were dismissed as “vermin” to be exterminated or valued only for the price of their fur.

A 2022 investigation by the Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International (now Humane World), and Born Free USA revealed an industry gone rogue, often disregarding even the lenient regulations imposed by state governments. To gather evidence, an undercover investigator attended the 2021 National Trappers Association Convention and a state-sponsored Trappers Education Course in Iowa. The result was a disturbing inside look at how trappers behave when they believe no one is watching.

The findings—many documented on video—are horrific. They include raccoons bludgeoned to death, a beaver found hanging from a snare in a tree, and a fox who broke his own leg in a desperate but futile attempt to escape a leghold trap. Angela Grimes, CEO of Born Free USA, stated: “The evidence captured as part of this investigation is difficult to watch, but it is important. This inexcusable cruelty is meted out to millions of animals each year across the country.”

One of the reasons leghold and similar traps are so cruel is that they are not designed to kill quickly, but to hold animals until the trapper arrives. That may take days, during which time the animal suffers immensely. Some are killed by predators while still restrained, which may be a mercy compared to slowly dying of hunger, thirst, or infection as the steel cuts into their skin.

Even when trappers return, the end is rarely quick. The Humane Society/Born Free investigation documented raccoons beaten to death with baseball bats, sometimes tossed onto piles of bodies before their deaths were even confirmed. The suffering endured by these animals is unimaginable.

So, what can animal advocates do? The most important step is to pressure lawmakers—especially at the state level, where hunting regulations are often decided—to ban legal trapping. Lawmakers and regulators must hear from constituents who care about this issue and are watching how it is handled.

The need is urgent: many states place shockingly few restrictions on trappers. For instance, Montana sets limits for only five species, meaning all other mammals can be trapped without restriction. In most states, traps may also be left unattended indefinitely, leaving animals to languish in agony for days.

Advocating for bans on cruel traps is vital—but so is ensuring existing laws are enforced. The Born Free/Humane Society footage appeared to show trainers at an Iowa trapping course discussing illegal practices, and even an Iowa Department of Natural Resources employee advising how to exploit loopholes. Since the 2022 investigation, little suggests that much has changed. Stronger oversight and enforcement are urgently needed.

While reform has been slow in the U.S. and Canada, other countries have taken decisive action. Over 100 nations worldwide have banned leghold traps, recognizing them as among the cruelest devices ever used against animals. Some U.S. states have followed suit—California became the first to fully ban animal trapping in 2019.

Still, cultural glorification of hunting and “frontier” traditions has made progress difficult in many states. Real reform requires a cultural shift: viewing wild animals not as resources or trophies, but as sentient beings capable of suffering.

Only when that shift takes hold will the cruel trapping industry finally disappear. Until then, it is up to animal lovers to speak out, ensuring the cries of trapped animals do not echo through the forests unheard.

Photo credit: Laura G. Velasco

Wait, there’s one more step:

Over 1,592,360 Animal Shelter Meals Donated So Far –

Upgrade to a Premium Membership to get a free Animals Are Earth’s Greatest Treasure shirt, feed shelter animals with the Educational Series and Meal Wheel, sign 100’s of petitions with one-click, remove ads, and promote your favorite petitions to millions!

7 day money-back guarantee for new members. Zero risk.

Premium Membership comes with the following perks:

• Get a free Animals Are Earth’s Greatest Treasure shirt.
• Feed shelter animals by spinning the Meal Wheel.
• Sign 100’s of petitions with one-click.
• Feed shelter animals with the Educational Series quizzes.
• Remove ads and vote on which petitions are displayed to millions of people.

Our Guarantee:

Cancel your subscription for any reason within 7 days and we’ll refund 100% of your money, as long as you’re a first time member.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How are the animal shelter meals donated?

We donate shelter meals through Rescue Bank because they research all shelters, maintain equitable distribution, and track the meals from their facilities all the way to the rescue groups. This ensures that the donation will be utilized in the most efficient and impacting way.

Why don’t we just donate meals without providing any perks like the Meal Wheel?

We’ve been at this since 2008 and have learned that to really make a difference, we need to get people excited and engaged. Our mission is a serious one, but our methods are playful and educational. We’re serious about doing good, but also want to make it fun.

Who are we?

We are a family of sites that works to protect animals, the environment, and more. Our sites include AnimalPetitions.org and ForceChange.com. We’ve been at this for over a decade and are dedicated to protecting and defending animals and the environment. If we can have some fun and improve the world, then we’re accomplishing our goal!

Try Premium!

We’ve Been Doing This for Over a Decade and Others Have Taken Notice:

7 Day Guarantee!

Testimonials:

“Thank you SO much for the premium feature of being able to sign multiple petitions with one click. Many of us go for hours at a time signing each and every petition and crying as we read them. I have often wished for a way to sign my name on every petition because I passionately support them and they all need our voice. This is the best thing – thank you very much!” -Karilyn K., Premium Member

“This is just the most amazing wonderful service that makes me so happy! To be able to feed shelter pets is just the greatest feeling. Thanks again for this, and for all you do for the most innocent and helpless among us, the animals. I’m lovestruck.” Sandra Z., Premium Member

“I love the upgrade option and I am so glad I did it.....it enables me to stand with you and many others to fight for the justice these precious souls deserve! We are their voice!!!! And....I adore helping to feed them as well! The spin the wheel game is fun....and I like doing it everyday to help! Keep up the wonderful work....and I know....every click makes a difference!” Dorothy B., Premium Member

“I am so excited to become a Premium Member and to have one-click signing, as I was spending countless hours signing petitions...not that I mind doing it, but my goodness, there sure are a lot of them. I always hope that my signature somehow helps, because these people that abuse/torture animals, need to be put away. As you can tell, that is my passion, I have such a heart for animals, and I want to be their voice.” Darlene R., Premium Member

“Thank you so much! I love being a premium member and spinning that wheel every day, especially when I land on 4 or, best of all, 5 meals. Thank you for all you do, we are all so grateful for you.” Sandy T., Premium Member

“With deepest Aloha, You have no idea how grateful I am for you!” Jan L., Premium Member

“Thank you for the Premium Membership option. I really appreciate that I can sign multiple petitions with one click. It's great! Thank you for the work you do.” Ashley H., Premium Member

“I absolutely love the Educational Series!” Yvonne L., Premium Member

"I am a premium member and religiously sign every petition. THANK YOU for this platform. I also vote for the petition nearest my heart, sometimes voting globally, sometimes I am caught by an individual animal's plight. What gives me great pleasure is noting that almost always, the percentages have no more than a 6-7% spread. It means that, overall, everyone cares about all of the petitions ALMOST EQUALLY! LOL, I also spin that wheel, and when I get 4 or 5 meals, I dance around the room! I have long maintained that what someone does to a helpless animal, they will do to a weaker human if they think that they can get away with it. Those who abuse, no matter how many legs their victims have, should be punished to the fullest extent of the law." Rebecca E., Premium Member

"I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Premium Membership! Everything and anything I can do to help animals and contribute to justice in the world makes me very happy!" Jan L., Premium Member

"Thank you, I love what you do. My friends and I love the membership because we can sign so many more petitions that we may never had heard of. Keep up the good work." Virginia G., Premium Member

---

Still have questions? Email us: organize@forcechange.com

Nick Engelfried Writes About Animals, the Environment, and Conservation for the ForceChange network