Wire snares cause indiscriminate, severe suffering in target and non-target wildlife; welfare-focused reform efforts seek either improved snare standards or outright prohibition.
Even legally compliant snares cause significant welfare harm: animals caught in free-running snares struggle, experience fear, cannot access food or water, and may be held for hours until the trapper returns. Animals that escape with injuries face infection, impaired mobility, and reduced survival. Non-target species including badgers, deer, and pet dogs are regularly caught in legal snares. The welfare argument for snare prohibition is strong, particularly given the availability of alternative pest management tools. Scotland has moved toward prohibition while England and Wales maintain regulated use.