Know the Species for Legal Trapping

Learning about the animals you want to trap is very important.

• Check with your state or provincial wildlife agency to find out which furbearers may be trapped legally in your area.
• Learn about these animals: what their tracks look like, what they eat, where they prefer to make their dens, and where they travel and why.

This topic gives information about various North American furbearers.

• All of these species may not be present in your area.
• Even if a species is present in your state, it may not be legal to trap.

The following are common North American furbearers.

• Muskrat
• Beaver
• Opossum
• Raccoon
• Weasel
• Mink
• Skunk
• River otter
• Red fox
• Gray fox
• Coyote