California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 1 - Fish and Game Commission-Department of Fish and Game › Subdivision 2 - Game, Furbearers, Nongame, and Depredators › Chapter 5 - Furbearing Mammals › Section 465.5 - Use of Traps

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a)
				  Traps Defined. Traps are defined to include padded-jaw leg-hold, steel-jawed
				  leg-hold, and conibear traps, snares, dead-falls, cage traps and other devices
				  designed to confine, hold, grasp, grip, clamp or crush animals' bodies or body
				  parts.
(b) Affected Mammals
				  Defined. For purposes of this section, furbearing mammals, game mammals, exotic
				  game mammals, nongame mammals, and protected mammals are those mammals so
				  defined by statute on July 1, 2024, in sections
				  3950,
				  3965,
				  4000,
				  4150
				  and
				  4700 of
				  the Fish and Game Code.
(c)
				  Prohibition on Trapping for the Purposes of Recreation or Commerce in Fur. It
				  is unlawful for any person to trap for the purposes of recreation or commerce
				  in fur any furbearing mammal or nongame mammal with any body-gripping trap. A
				  body-gripping trap is one that grips the mammal's body or body part, including,
				  but not limited to, steel-jawed leg-hold traps, padded-jaw leg-hold traps,
				  conibear traps, and snares. Cage and box traps, nets, suitcase-type live beaver
				  traps, and common rat and mouse traps shall not be considered body-gripping
				  traps and may be used to trap for the purposes of recreation or commerce in fur
				  any furbearing or nongame mammal.
(d) Prohibition on Exchange of Raw Fur. It is
				  unlawful for any person to buy, sell, barter, or otherwise exchange for profit,
				  or to offer to buy, sell, barter, or otherwise exchange for profit, the raw
				  fur, as defined by Section
				  4005 of
				  the Fish and Game Code, of any furbearing mammal or nongame mammal that was
				  trapped in this state, with a body-gripping trap as described in subsection (c)
				  above.
(e) Prohibition on Use of
				  Steel-jawed Leg-hold Traps by Individuals. It is unlawful for any person to use
				  or authorize the use of any steel-jawed leg-hold trap, padded or otherwise, to
				  capture any game mammal, exotic game mammal, furbearing mammal, nongame mammal,
				  protected mammal, or any dog or cat.
(1)
				  Exception for Extraordinary Case to Protect Human Health or Safety. The
				  prohibition in subsection (e) does not apply to federal, state, county, or
				  municipal government employees or their duly authorized agents in the
				  extraordinary case where the otherwise prohibited padded-jaw leg-hold trap is
				  the only method available to protect human health or safety.
(A) Leg-hold Trap Requirements. Leg-hold
				  traps used to implement subsection (e)(1) must be padded, commercially
				  manufactured, and equipped as provided in subsections (A)1. through (A)5.
				  below.
1. Anchor Chains. Anchor chains must
				  be attached to the center of the padded trap, rather than the side.
2. Chain Swivels. Anchor chains must have a
				  double swivel mechanism attached as follows: One swivel is required where the
				  chain attaches to the center of the trap. The second swivel may be located at
				  any point along the chain, but it must be functional at all times.
3. Shock Absorbing Device. A shock absorbing
				  device such as a spring must be in the anchor chain.
4. Tension Device. Padded leg-hold traps must
				  be equipped with a commercially manufactured pan tension adjusting
				  device.
5. Trap Pads. Trap pads
				  must be replaced with new pads when worn and maintained in good
				  condition.