Snares are widely used in UK wildlife management for foxes and rabbits. The welfare implications of snaring are severe, and reform campaigns are advancing.
Snare welfare evidence is compelling and largely uncontested. Even legally set, free-running snares checked within 24 hours cause significant welfare harm: animals experience acute stress, struggle-related injuries, exposure, and hypothermia during the check interval. The non-target animal problem is particularly concerning - protected species including badgers, hares, and domestic pets are regularly caught and killed in legally set snares without any consequences for the snare operator. Scotland's ban demonstrates that alternative pest control methods are available, weakening the argument that snaring is an essential tool.