Snares used for wildlife control and hunting cause severe suffering and indiscriminately catch non-target species including protected animals and pets.
Snaring causes some of the most prolonged suffering inflicted on wild animals. Trapped animals panic, struggle and sustain severe injuries as they attempt to escape. Those that do not escape face dehydration, predation or slow death. Even legally placed snares must be checked daily in some jurisdictions, but compliance is poor. The indiscriminate nature of snares — catching any animal that steps through the loop — makes their use fundamentally incompatible with good wildlife welfare standards. Banning self-locking snares and restricting snare use are important welfare goals.