“How much do animals suffer due to the fur trade?”. That is a moral question and, requires a moral answer. However the morals involved are rapped around some very real and unavoidable facts. While I am no Cecil (or Big C. as I like to call him) I am qualified to speak on this subject. Having grown-up a “farmboy”, I ran my first trapline at 11 (1976) and did so every winter until one of The Few and The Proud in 1982, and again after discharge for another 10 years, the jast 2 to pay for a degree in veterinary technology (we can discuss animal welfare vs. animal rights another time). So, as Big C. said, both snares and “leg traps” are both vicouse and cruel devices (useing either would get you a "woopin’ " were I come from. A conabear trap, of the right size, (designed to break the neck and thoracic spine instantly) WILL kill the animal as painlessly as possible 99% of the time. Traps are checked (by every trapper I have ever known) early every morning without fail (scavengers and hungry preditors will ruin a pelt fast). The animals trapped are primarily nocturnal, you see, but dogs, cats, rats etc. are attracted to fresh meat 24/7. I’m sure there are some “irresponcible” trappers that still use snares and leg traps, but my experience is most try to minimize animal suffering while controling the population of crop destroying animals. Population control is also a public health issue. Raccoon over population has caused massive epidemics of canine distemper. Internal parasites (that can and do infect people regularly) are carried by all fur bearing animals. Oh, and don’t forget about Rabies. As for fur farms, I can only say, that their profits depend on the production of thick healthy pelts. The animals health will effect the quality of fur. Better health = better profits. Again, 'm sure there are inhumane fur farmers that , to quote Gramps “Are in dire need of a woodshed education!”. Bottom line, people kill animals out of necesity of nature and profit financialy from it as a necesity of of society. It must be done, but, if we wish to RIGHTFULLY to claim ourselves “Superior”, it should be done without cruelty or avoidable suffering. :dubious:
You don’t know enough trappers, evidently. Some fail more than others.
A company that I used to work for had to do some work on a mink farm, and I asked the owner how they killed the mink, and he said that they inject nicotine into the hearts of the mink, killing the mink instantly. He said they did it that way to avoid damaging the pelt in any way, if the pelt is damaged it is worth less.