Literatuurstudie naar het diervriendelijk gebruik van vangkooien

Cage and hive traps are used in Flanders for hunting or controlling certain animal species. The Agency for Nature and Forests asked how well these traps score in terms of animal welfare. The main focus was on the proportion of by-catches, possible injuries and the effect of the mandatory escape opening for by-catches in Flanders.
In general, cage and trap traps score well in terms of animal welfare: if they are built, placed and followed correctly, the risk of injury, stress, deprivation and death can be reduced. Crucial to this is the time animals spend in the trap, so it is also very important to check the trap often enough.
The experiences of the Flemish hunting sector with cage and hive traps, and with the escape opening, were analysed through a survey. The most common target species for which these traps are used are foxes, feral cats, rats and crows; the most common secondary species are hedgehogs and stone martens. Injuries (both minor and severe) and dead animals occur on control. Overall, a minority within the hunting industry seems to have a negative attitude towards the opening.
Further research is needed to better understand the advantages and disadvantages of the escape opening, e.g. its efficiency and impact on animal welfare.