​

September 17, 2025 – The Ontario government has opened a public consultation on proposed changes to trapping regulations that would expand economic opportunities for licensed trappers and fur dealers. While the government presents these changes as a way to “streamline rules” and “reduce administrative burdens”, the reality is that they could have serious consequences for animal welfare, environmental protection, and transparency.

​

The Fur-Bearers and AEL Advocacy strongly oppose these proposals and are urging the public to speak out before the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) comment deadline on October 6, 2025.

​

Click here to jump to the "Take Action" section of this article.

​

   CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE CONSULTATION WEBPAGE   

​

What’s Being Proposed?

​

The Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) posting outlines that the government’s proposals would:

​

1. Allow the sale of raw beaver castoreum by licensed fur dealers. Castoreum is a natural secretion from beavers that is used in perfumes and as a food flavouring. Currently, regulations prevent the sale of this byproduct in raw form. The government’s changes would allow fur dealers to sell it legally, opening a small but highly controversial economic opportunity.

2. Reduce reporting requirements for licensed fur dealers, eliminating mandatory annual reporting to the ministry. Fur dealer reports are an important regulatory tool for ensuring compliance with humane trapping standards and environmental protections. Loosening these requirements reduces transparency and public accountability.

3. Expand methods for killing trapped furbearing mammals, including permitting trappers to use pistols after dark. While the government argues this helps trappers manage animals humanely, it raises serious concerns about public safety, animal suffering, and the risk of errors.

4. Permit trapping of beavers on Crown land during the closed season to protect property or infrastructure. Currently, beavers may only be trapped during the open season (e.g. September-April), unless they are causing immediate damage on private property. This change could lead to increased beaver removal on public lands, disrupting ecosystems, waterways, and biodiversity.

 

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why This Matters

​

Although the government claims these changes will promote humane trapping and help manage wildlife conflicts, they carry serious risks that cannot be ignored. Expanding trapping and allowing more methods for killing increases the risk of suffering for both target and non-target species. Even with supposedly humane traps, animals can experience pain, stress, or prolonged injury. The proposed changes weaken protections for furbearing mammals and set a dangerous precedent that economic gains outweigh animal protection.

 

These changes also threaten Ontario’s ecosystems. Beavers are keystone species whose dams create wetlands that support biodiversity, regulate water flow, and improve water quality. Permitting their removal on Crown land during the closed season (e.g. May-August) could destroy habitats, reduce biodiversity, and disrupt natural water systems, with long-term ecological consequences. At the same time, reducing reporting requirements for fur dealers would erode transparency and make it harder to ensure that trapping practices comply with humane and environmental standards.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

Equally troubling is the absence of evidence to support these proposals. While the ERO posting claims that the “environmental consequences of the proposed regulatory changes are anticipated to be minimal,” it offers no documentation to substantiate this. No environmental impact assessments, scientific studies, or ecosystem data have been made available for public review. Without this information, stakeholders cannot properly evaluate the risks to wetlands, waterways, biodiversity, or animal welfare.

​

This lack of transparency follows a troubling pattern. Just last year, the government of Ontario proposed changes to trapping regulations related to the design of restraining snares (also known as “relaxing cable restraints”) without providing evidence to support them. Although the government referenced “research findings,” they were not shared publicly or provided to The Fur-Bearers upon request. The Fur-Bearers has since appealed the government’s refusal to release the information to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario, and that appeal remains under review.

​

AEL Advocacy has also called out similar transparency gaps, such as the government’s failure to provide supporting documents related to a recent Environmental Compliance Approval for a meat processing facility in Brampton.

​

Even Ontario’s Auditor General has raised concerns. In its most recent Performance Audit on the Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, the office noted that “18% of the proposal notices [they] reviewed left out important information for the public to fully understand the proposals, including about their environmental implications.” This ongoing pattern undermines transparency in environmental decision-making and prevents Ontarians from meaningfully exercising their environmental rights. Without access to complete and reliable information, the public cannot properly assess the potential impacts of these proposals on animals and ecosystems.

 

Take Action!

​

The Government of Ontario is accepting public comments until October 6, 2025. Make your voice heard today! How to take action:

 

1. Click here to be taken to the consultation website. The link will open in a new window.

2. Read the information on the webpage and click the blue button that says “Submit a comment”.

3. You can sign in if you have an account. If you do not have an account, you can submit a comment anonymously by selecting the blue button that says “Comment without registering”.

4. Enter your comments on the following page and click ‘Submit your comment’ to finish the process.

 

Submission Tips

​

It’s important to submit comments in your own voice, but here are some points that can help guide your submission:

​

• The government must provide full scientific documentation, environmental impact assessments, and data to support its claims. It should also consider extending the public comment period to allow stakeholders time to review this information and provide informed feedback.

• Laws around trapping need to prioritize animal welfare and should be informed by current, peer-reviewed science.

• Small financial gains for the fur trade should never come at the expense of animal protection, public safety, or ecological health.

• Beavers are keystone species that create wetlands, support biodiversity, and regulate water systems. Policies should safeguard habitats on Crown and private lands from increased or indiscriminate trapping, especially during the closed season.

• Strong reporting and regulatory oversight are essential to ensure that trapping practices comply with required standards.

​

​