Field-Assessed Injury to Wolves Captured in Rubber-Padded Traps

Minimizing and understanding the causes of capture-related injury should be a goal of every project that catches animals. We investigated the influence of age, weight, and sex on the field-assessed foot injury of 96 wolves (Canis lupus) captured in rubber-padded foothold traps. We then compared our results with those of 6 other types of wolf traps as reported in the literature. Injury from rubber-padded traps was lower than that of other traps, and age, weight, or sex did not influence foot damage. Rubber-padded foothold traps appear to be humane, and managers should consider their use for live capture of wolves.