OLR Bill Analysis
AN ACT CONCERNING LEGHOLD TRAPS.
Current law prohibits anyone from placing, setting, or attending any snare, net, or similar device capable of injuring or taking (defined as killing, capturing, trapping, snaring, hooking, or netting) an animal. This bill specifically prohibits the use of body-crushing or leghold traps, snares, nets, or similar devices capable of killing an animal.
The bill specifies that cage and box traps, nets, suitcase-type beaver traps, and common rat and mouse traps are not considered leghold traps, body-crushing traps, or snares. But current law, which remains unchanged, continues to ban the use of nets capable of taking or injuring animals, and the bill bans the use of nets capable of killing them.
The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) commissioner to seize body-crushing and leghold traps and to destroy, sell, or retain them for her own use if no one claims them within 24 hours. A violation of the bill is punishable by a fine of up to $ 200 and imprisonment for up to 60 days, or both.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2009
DEFINITIONS
Body-crushing Trap
A body-crushing trap is a device designed to kill an animal with a blow or crushing force to the body, including “conibear”-style traps.
Leghold Trap
A leghold trap is a device designed to close on the foot or leg of an animal with enough force to hold the animal until the person tending the trap returns. It includes both padded and unpadded steel-jawed leghold style traps.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Environment Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea |
22 |
Nay |
8 |
(03/13/2009) |