Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act of 2021

To end the use of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act of 2021 2. Possession or use of body-gripping trap prohibited The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 ( 16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq. 6. Possession or use of body-gripping trap prohibited (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), no person may possess or use a body-gripping trap in the System. (b) Exceptions (1) In general Subsection (a) shall not apply to the use of a body-gripping trap— (A) by an agency of the Federal Government; (B) to— (i) control an invasive species (as such term is defined in section 10(a) of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act) to achieve resource management objectives; or (ii) protect a species that— (I) is listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973; or (II) the Secretary of the Interior has designated as a sensitive species; and (C) if— (i) such use is in accordance with Federal and State law; and (ii) all viable nonlethal methods for achieving a goal described in paragraph (1) have been attempted and such documentation is maintained at the headquarters of the department that carried out such attempt. (2) Training Subsection (a) does not apply to training in the dismantling of body-gripping traps. (c) Enforcement provisions Notwithstanding section 4(f), a person who possesses or uses a body-gripping trap in the System shall be subject to the following: (1) In the case of a first offense, a civil fine of not more than $500 imposed by the Secretary for each body-gripping trap possessed or used. (2) In the case of a subsequent offense— (A) a civil fine of not more than $1,000 imposed by the Secretary for each body-gripping trap possessed or used; (B) imprisonment for not more than 180 days; or (C) both a civil fine and imprisonment in accordance with subparagraphs (A) and (B). (d) Forfeiture of body-Gripping trap Any body-gripping trap that is possessed or used in violation of this section, and any wildlife captured by the use of such trap, including the pelt or raw fur of such wildlife, shall be subject to forfeiture to the United States in accordance with the provisions of chapter 46 (e) Payment of court costs and other associated expenses A person found to be in violation of subsection (a) shall pay all associated court costs. (f) Regulations Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary shall issue any regulations necessary to carry out this section. (g) Definitions (1) Body-Gripping trap In this section, the term body-gripping trap (A) except as provided in paragraph (3), means any device that is intended to kill or capture wildlife by physically restraining any part of the animal; (B) includes any— (i) steel-jaw, padded, or other modified leghold trap; (ii) kill-type trap; (iii) snare trap; or (iv) modified version of any such trap; and (C) does not include any— (i) cage or box trap; or (ii) suitcase-type live beaver trap. (2) Nonlethal methods The term nonlethal methods (A) includes exclusions, barriers, harassment and scaring devices, and any other method that does not result in the death of target or non-target species, except (B) does not include the use of a body-gripping trap. .

Summary: Refuge From Cruel Trapping Act of 2021 This bill prohibits, with specified exceptions, the use or possession of body-gripping traps in the National Wildlife Refuge System. The bill imposes on persons who possess or use such traps in the system (1) for a first offense, a civil fine of up to $500 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used; and (2) for subsequent offenses, a civil fine of up to $1,000 for each body-gripping trap possessed or used, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both such a civil fine and imprisonment. The bill makes any body-gripping traps that are possessed or used in violation of this bill, and any wildlife captured by the use of such traps, including the pelts and raw fur, subject to civil forfeiture. Persons found to be in violation of such prohibition shall pay all associated court costs.