Furbearer populations fluctuate from year to year and are influenced by factors such as predator/prey relationships, food supply and disease. Trapping pressure can also influence population growth or decline. For example, if the price of a species on the fur market is high trappers tend to put more effort into trapping that species.

Lynx depend mainly on snowshoe hare as a food source and as a result tend to follow the population cycles of snowshoe hare. The lynx cycle is slightly out of sync with the hare cycle. For example, lynx numbers tend to peak one to two years after hare numbers peak.

Since the mid 1970's muskrat populations have been strongly suppressed by mink. Mink predation virtually eliminated muskrat from many parts of Newfoundland and it is only in recent years that muskrat have been making a recovery in many areas.

Coyote is a new species to the Island as a result of a natural introduction believed to have occurred in the mid 1980's when coyotes came ashore from pack ice in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Pine Marten are an endangered species on the Island and have been protected since 1934. In Labrador, however, the marten population is healthy with between 508 to 1,390 martens harvested annually.

Wolf occur only in Labrador and the number harvested annually is less than 50.

The Inland Fish and Wildlife Division monitors the status of the provinces furbearer populations through trend data such as trapper effort, trapper success, cumulative index, and relative abundance obtained from trapping licence returns.

Anecdotal information from area conversation officers, trappers and the general public also serves as an indicator of how furbearer populations are doing.

The Inland Fish and Wildlife Division develops an annual furbearer management plan for Newfoundland and Labrador. It is based on furbearer harvest trends, input from Conservation Officers and other staff of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, input from non-governmental organizations and from the general public.

The Furbearer Management Plan covers issues related to trapping seasons, fur zone boundaries, and other specific recommendations made by staff and the public. The Management Plan is presented at the Provincial Small Game and Furbearer Management meeting with headquarters and regional staff. Following Ministerial approval of the Plan, feedback is provided to Regional representatives on the resolution of all issues contained in the Plan.

Information regarding trapping is then made available to the public through the Annual Hunting and Trapping Guide.