Snares are widely used to catch rabbits, foxes, and other mammals but cause significant indiscriminate suffering to target and non-target species alike.
Snaring is among the least welfare-compliant methods of wildlife control in common use. Animals caught in snares experience fear, pain, and often injury from struggling against the restraint. Without regular checking — a legal requirement rarely enforced — animals may remain trapped for extended periods, experiencing dehydration, exposure, and predation risk. Non-target species including protected badgers, otters, and companion animals are regularly caught. The welfare case for snare reform is strong: wire snares cause suffering proportional to the animal's struggles, and humane alternatives including live-trapping, shooting, and habitat management are available for most management objectives.