Help Restrict Body-Gripping Traps on Wildlife Refuges

Nearly half of all National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands allow the use of steel-jaw leghold and other body-gripping traps, which aren’t selective about who they catch and inflict prolonged agony on anyone caught in their grip.

No wild animal, pet, or person should fear a bone-crushing trap snapping shut on them on land that is meant to be a haven for wildlife and the public.

The NWRS cannot fulfill its goal of being a refuge for animals and people until these traps are banned. That is why Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) recently reintroduced the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (H.R. 4108), legislation to remove these traps from the NWRS, with limited exceptions

Please ask your US representative to cosponsor the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (H.R. 4108)*, legislation to remove these traps from the NWRS, with limited exceptions.

* H.R. stands for House Resolution. When a Bill is introduces by a Member of Congress it is given a # - thus H.R.4108 is this Bill's number.(in the US Senate - Bill's are: S.R_____ - the Senate number will be different. H.R.4108 has not been introduced in the Senate, yet. It is important to reference a Bill's #.

It only takes a few minutes to help animals in need.

1. Click on the logo below for the Animal Welfare Institute. Their Action Center will allow you to send a letter to your member of Congress:

Click the logo above

2. Please call Cortland and Tompkins County's Member of Congress, Josh Riley in Washington DC (202) 225-5441 and his District Office (607) 242-0200 and say....

Hi, my name is ________ and I am a constituent from ______, NY.. I’m calling to urge Congressman Riley to co-sponsor the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (H.R. 4108). 

Introduced by fellow New York Congressman Jerrod Nader -- H.R 4108 would ban the use of body-gripping traps on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands where animals and children have faced agonizing injuries from these bone crushing traps.

Please urge Mr. Riley to add his name to thee growing list of co-sponsors this important bi-partisan Bill - H.R4108. Thank you..

3. Send a hand written letter to Congressman Riley. Congress receive fewer handwritten letters than you think - they make the greatest impact by far. Here is my printed letter I used as my guide:

 August 20, 2025

The Honorable Josh Riley

United States House of Representatives 

128 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, DC  20515

RE: Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (H.R. 4108)

Dear Congressman Riley: As a constituent and small business owner working within the animal community, I urge you to co-sponsor the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (H.R. 4108). 

Introduced by Congressman Nader (NY-12), the Refuge from Cruel Trapping Act (H.R. 4108) would ban the use of body-gripping traps such as strangling snares, Conibear traps, and steel-jaw leghold traps on National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) lands. It would not affect hunting activities on refuges, and there is an exemption for wildlife management conducted by federal personnel. Traps used within Alaskan refuges and by members of Native American tribes would also be exempt. Steel-jaw leghold traps operate by slamming shut - with bone-crushing force -  on the limb of any animal who trips the device. Struggling in agony, victims may chew off the trapped limb to escape or die a slow agonizing pain. Conibear traps are intended to break or crush an animal's spinal column, yet, as is the case with other body-gripping traps and snares, their efficacy and accuracy are unreliable. Animals may suffer severe injuries but remain alive. Snares tighten around the neck or body of their victims, slowly strangling them. Furthermore, these body-gripping traps are indiscriminate, injuring and killing nontarget animals, including endangered and threatened species and pets. They can and have seriously injured people.

The purpose of national wildlife refuges is clear - to be havens where native wildlife can thrive and all Americans can enjoy the great outdoors. Brutal, indiscriminate traps set by private trappers endanger not only wild animals but also the millions of visitors and their pets who spend time in the nation's refuges each year. The NWRS cannot fulfill its goal of being a refuge for both animals and people until lawmakers severely restrict the use of these traps.

I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 4108 to protect wildlife, people, and pets who spend time on public lands.

Sincerely,

Kevin Kirby

District Captain (NY-19)

ASPCA Advocacy Volunteer

Thank you - taking just a few minutes can truly help animals from suffering. Like the ASPCA moto: Be their voice.