Snaring policy

The indiscriminate nature of snares is of particular concern to the League.

There are two basic types of snare: 'free-running' and 'self-locking'. The latter is prohibited under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 because its ever-tightening action can lead to crushing and mutilation before death.

The legal 'free-running' snare is designed, but does not necessarily manage, to hold an animal without causing severe injury until the trapper returns to kill the animal. Under the existing law snares need only be inspected at least once in every 24-hour period. This can lead to an animal being legally held by a limb or by the body in a snare for up to 47 hours 59 minutes without relief.

The League believes that the evidence clearly shows that all forms of snaring cause unnecessary suffering of the snared animal. Further cruelty is caused by the fact that snares by their nature are not selective.

The League calls for an end to the manufacture, sale and use of all snares on welfare grounds, because they cause so much unnecessary suffering and cruelty to both target and non-target animals.