Wildlife Snare Reform: Ending Indiscriminate Trapping

Snares trap animals by the neck or body, causing suffering and unintentional capture of non-target species. Reform is advancing but comprehensive bans remain incomplete.

Key Facts

Wire snares are widely used for predator control of foxes, stoats, and rabbits in the UK and many other countries.
Legal snares must be checked at least once every 24 hours in the UK, but compliance is difficult to enforce.
Self-locking snares that tighten irreversibly are illegal in the UK, but approved free-running snares can still cause injury.
Non-target species including badgers, deer, hares, cats, and dogs are regularly killed or injured by snares.
Animals caught in snares may struggle for hours or days before dying from exhaustion, strangulation, or predation.
Scotland introduced a new snare licensing scheme in 2023 requiring training and registration of snare users.
Snares are banned in many countries including Germany, Netherlands, Austria, and several US states.
Humane traps (cage traps, kill traps such as Fenn or Kania) provide alternatives for some species and situations.

Welfare Considerations

Snares cause significant welfare harm to both target and non-target animals. An animal caught in a snare typically struggles, injuring itself through attempts to escape, and may remain trapped for up to 24 hours in a state of acute stress before being found and killed or released. Non-target species — including companion animals, protected wildlife, and legally protected mammals — face this fate through no fault of management intent. The existence of more selective and humane alternatives for most pest control situations means the continued use of snares reflects tradition and cost considerations rather than necessity. The welfare case for comprehensive snare bans, or at minimum strict regulation with meaningful enforcement, is strong and supported by most animal welfare science.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for comprehensive snare bans in your country.
Advocate for stronger enforcement of existing snare regulations.
Report suspected illegal snares or snare injuries to appropriate wildlife authorities.
Support the transition to more selective and humane pest control methods.
Keep companion animals away from areas where snares may be set.
Engage with land management organisations about transitioning away from snare use.