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<p>The Government uses the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s National Wildlife Management
Centre for advice on trap humaneness.</p><p> </p><p>Of the species currently covered
by the Agreement on International Humane Trapping standards (AIHTS), the stoat is
the only species regularly and widely trapped in the UK using spring-traps.</p><p>
</p><p>When we implement the AIHTS for stoat, the most widely used spring-trap (Fenn
type) will no longer be approved for use against stoats. To address this issue, Defra
aims to implement the AIHTS as soon as is practically possible, but to use a permitted
transition provision to allow delayed implementation of the agreement for stoats whilst
a suitable compliant design is identified.</p><p> </p><p>The Fenn type trap is a run-through
trap designed to trap animals as they travel through their usual pathways across the
landscape.</p><p>The DOC trap meets the required standards but it is only permitted
for use as a blind end baited trap. A significant disadvantage of baited traps, such
as the DOC, is that stoats will avoid entering baited traps when there is an abundance
of preferred food available. These conditions coincide with peak trapping effort to
protect game birds and other ground nesting species.</p><p> </p><p>This has led the
Government to conclude that the DOC is not a suitable alternative to the Fenn type
trap.</p>
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