Council votes to review regulations concerning leg-hold traps

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

Kingston could see tightening regulations surrounding the use of leg-hold traps in the near future.

At Council’s last meeting, Collins-Bayridge District Councillor Lisa Osanic brought the motion forward to initiate a change in the City’s existing approach, both in response to the suffering these traps can cause for local wildlife and the risk they pose to domestic pets and children in densely populated areas.

The use of leg-hold traps has been reported in the Kingscourt-Williamsville District and the Collins-Bayridge District in recent years, with the traps having injured and killed local wildlife like raccoons and skunks.

The Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre has reportedly received several animals from Kingston that have either died in leg hold traps or had to be euthanized because of severe damage caused by the traps.

Currently, these issues are regulated under provincial legislation and oversight. A change to municipal by-law could empower local by-law and animal control officers to investigate, issue fines, and seize illegal traps on the spot. 

Council will be presented with options to amend the Animal Control By-Law or the Community Standards By-Law to prohibit or regulate the use of leg-hold traps in early 2027.

Listen to the full story here.