Snaring
*Much of the information on this page has been provided by Dwight Rodka ( retired problem wildlife specialist with Alberta Agriculture) & Gilbert Proulx (Biologist) as well as from Fur Bearer Defenders.
*Some images on this page may be disturbing to viewers
History of Snaring and Current Use:
Snaring animals has been around for as long as humans have been killing them for food, clothing, profit or sport. Their use dates back thousands of years, as evidenced by their depiction in cave drawings and it's use is still widespread today. While some snares are concealed under dirt or snow, snares are most commonly placed along existing animal travel routes, or along the anticipated path of travel an animal may use when approaching bait or other attractant or in enclosed areas with lures or baits. Ten or more killing neck snares may be set around large draw baits (“saturation snaring”) to catch most of a wolf pack. Killing neck snares are popular in Canada and in particular Alberta where they are set on trap lines with the intent to kill canids (wolves, coyotes, foxes). Educated estimates place the proliferation of these snares in the tens of thousands in central-western Alberta alone.
Killing neck snares are commercially available and their use is being taught by professional trappers at various trapping courses around the province. They are popular among trappers because they are cheap, lightweight, easy to set, easily camouflaged (except power snares), and efficient at capturing a wide variety of fur-bearing animals. Furthermore, some trappers, as well as the Alberta government, claim that these devices (if used as advised) are humane, as they are designed to compress the carotid arteries, thereby reducing blood flow to the brain which, ideally, would quickly leading to unconsciousness and then death. (More on this below).
Killing neck snares are commercially available and their use is being taught by professional trappers at various trapping courses around the province. They are popular among trappers because they are cheap, lightweight, easy to set, easily camouflaged (except power snares), and efficient at capturing a wide variety of fur-bearing animals. Furthermore, some trappers, as well as the Alberta government, claim that these devices (if used as advised) are humane, as they are designed to compress the carotid arteries, thereby reducing blood flow to the brain which, ideally, would quickly leading to unconsciousness and then death. (More on this below).
What are Snares?
Neck snares consist of a light wire cable looped through a locking device and they are designed to tighten as an animal struggles. After thousands of years of use, the snares design has not progressed significantly. Over the years, various modifications to snares have been made. Different styles of sliding locks have been added to the cable to hold tension on the “choke hold” the wire has on the animal. Springs have also been added to some snare designs with the intent to maintain tension. Breakaway snares, although touted as a solution to non target catches, are little better than regular ones. By design, breakaway snares open when a heavier and stronger animal is caught. But they must be strong enough to hold a wolf, so everything smaller or weaker dies. If a moose, elk or other large animal happens to get caught by the muzzle in a breakaway snare, or the snare tangles in flexible brush, the snare will not release. The caught animal dies a slow and horrible death.
There are 2 types of killing neck snares - manual killing and power killing snares. Both are usually made of braided, galvanized stainless steel wire (diameter: 1/16 to 1/8 inch – 1.6 to 3.2 mm).
Manual killing neck snares - designed to tighten against an animals own energy (struggle). One end of the snare is formed into a loop with a one-way locking tab that only allows the loop to tighten. The more a captured animal struggles, the tighter the loop becomes, if the lock functions properly (e.g. malfunction may result from the animal’s hair being pulled into the lock as the snare tightens). The other end of the snare is
anchored to a fixed object (e.g., a tree) or, because the trapper wants to minimize disturbance at the trap site, to a “drag” that allows the snared animal to leave the location. Specific loop diameters and heights are recommended to capture canids in open or in forested sites.
Power killing neck snares – one or two springs provide the energy necessary to tighten the noose. No locks are needed because the clamping force is supplied by the spring pulling on the snare wire. Manufacturers of power killing neck snares claim without providing data that these devices are more selective than manual snares, and captured animals cannot chew the wire.
Many people think that the killing neck snare is designed to choke out the animal and that they suffocate, but in reality it is designed to cut off blood supply to the brain by compressing an animals carotid arteries leading to unconsciousness and death. As we illustrate in the next sections and in videos, photos and testimonials from trappers themselves below, this does not always occur and animals often suffer a painful death or survive with painful injuries.
There are 2 types of killing neck snares - manual killing and power killing snares. Both are usually made of braided, galvanized stainless steel wire (diameter: 1/16 to 1/8 inch – 1.6 to 3.2 mm).
Manual killing neck snares - designed to tighten against an animals own energy (struggle). One end of the snare is formed into a loop with a one-way locking tab that only allows the loop to tighten. The more a captured animal struggles, the tighter the loop becomes, if the lock functions properly (e.g. malfunction may result from the animal’s hair being pulled into the lock as the snare tightens). The other end of the snare is
anchored to a fixed object (e.g., a tree) or, because the trapper wants to minimize disturbance at the trap site, to a “drag” that allows the snared animal to leave the location. Specific loop diameters and heights are recommended to capture canids in open or in forested sites.
Power killing neck snares – one or two springs provide the energy necessary to tighten the noose. No locks are needed because the clamping force is supplied by the spring pulling on the snare wire. Manufacturers of power killing neck snares claim without providing data that these devices are more selective than manual snares, and captured animals cannot chew the wire.
Many people think that the killing neck snare is designed to choke out the animal and that they suffocate, but in reality it is designed to cut off blood supply to the brain by compressing an animals carotid arteries leading to unconsciousness and death. As we illustrate in the next sections and in videos, photos and testimonials from trappers themselves below, this does not always occur and animals often suffer a painful death or survive with painful injuries.
Manual Killing Neck Snare
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Power Killing Neck Snare
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Why Killing Neck Snares are Inhumane
Despite the neck snare modifications as described above, and in spite of these modifications being misleadingly portrayed as technical advances, modified killing neck snares (1) have not been tested and (2) are subject to the same and additional problems as traditional snares.
An animal can be snared anywhere on its body, depending on the animal’s movement and stance when it encounters a snare, as well as the snare's height and diameter (which often changes because of weather and the locks’ ability to freely slide, a function dependent on wind, snow, freezing, etc.). Sometimes the ensnared animal manages to pull the snare from its stake in the ground. There are accounts of wolves and even bears with the snare wire embedded painfully in their infected flesh. Many times, snares just simply don't work as they are intended to because of it's design, how it is set, what it is made of and simply just because of wolf anatomy. Wolves tend to suffer more than other animals in snares because they have developed thick musculature in their necks and have a reinforced trachea. Snared wolves that are very lucky may only live for hours; the unlucky ones take days to die.
In Alberta, there are no mandated checking times for snares as snares are deemed to be "lethal killing devices". This means that snares can be set and are not required to be checked for the rest of the season if a trapper chooses not to. Consequently, snared animals can die slowly from their injuries, as well as from exposure, exhaustion, dehydration, asphyxiation, starvation or by other predators. Additional to physical suffering, snared animals also suffer from pain, fear, anxiety, etc.
Dr. J. Diaz, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary has researched the time it takes for canids to die from strangulation. His conclusion is that: “Death can take hours through an extremely painful and slow process.” Dr Diaz notes that he cannot comprehend the decision of government “to elicit this kind of suffering and pain to a living being.”
Another common cause of death in canids that become trapped in killing neck snares is a phenomenon known as “exploded brain" or, as trappers call them, “jelly heads.” This is a cruel and agonizing death for the victim. "Jelly head" occurs when the snare constricts the jugular vein on the outside of the neck, cutting off blood returning to the heart; meanwhile, the carotid artery continues to pump blood into the brain, causing brain swelling and eventually rupture.
A mammal scientist in Maine (for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife) was conducting a study of snared coyotes when he noticed an alarming trend. After he checked 94 snared coyotes, he noticed a large proportion of carcasses that had fractured limbs, broken teeth, bullet holes, and grotesquely swollen heads (Jelly Heads). In a memo to his supervisor, Jukubas wrote, "Anyone who has had a migraine knows what it feels like to have swollen blood vessels in the head. To have blood vessels burst because of pressure must be excruciating”.
Almost one-third of the animals Jakubas examined were ‘jellyheads’. Almost another third had been clubbed or shot, indicating that snares do not kill quickly (as the industry claims they do). Additionally, longtime Maine trapper Bill Randall said the sight of an animal that died in a neck snare was the goriest visual display of animal cruelty he had ever seen.
Despite the nearly universal agreement by the trapping/fur industry that killing neck snares are lethal, and humane, numerous photos, and videos and trappers' own testimonials on hunting/trapping sites attest to the fact that killing snares aren't the lethal devices that they are portrayed to be. See the gallery and videos below to see some of these testimonials from trappers themselves as well as the truth that snaring does not result in a the quick painless death they want the public to believe.
Retired Predator Control Officer reports the in-humaneness of snares HERE and HERE
An animal can be snared anywhere on its body, depending on the animal’s movement and stance when it encounters a snare, as well as the snare's height and diameter (which often changes because of weather and the locks’ ability to freely slide, a function dependent on wind, snow, freezing, etc.). Sometimes the ensnared animal manages to pull the snare from its stake in the ground. There are accounts of wolves and even bears with the snare wire embedded painfully in their infected flesh. Many times, snares just simply don't work as they are intended to because of it's design, how it is set, what it is made of and simply just because of wolf anatomy. Wolves tend to suffer more than other animals in snares because they have developed thick musculature in their necks and have a reinforced trachea. Snared wolves that are very lucky may only live for hours; the unlucky ones take days to die.
In Alberta, there are no mandated checking times for snares as snares are deemed to be "lethal killing devices". This means that snares can be set and are not required to be checked for the rest of the season if a trapper chooses not to. Consequently, snared animals can die slowly from their injuries, as well as from exposure, exhaustion, dehydration, asphyxiation, starvation or by other predators. Additional to physical suffering, snared animals also suffer from pain, fear, anxiety, etc.
Dr. J. Diaz, a professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary has researched the time it takes for canids to die from strangulation. His conclusion is that: “Death can take hours through an extremely painful and slow process.” Dr Diaz notes that he cannot comprehend the decision of government “to elicit this kind of suffering and pain to a living being.”
Another common cause of death in canids that become trapped in killing neck snares is a phenomenon known as “exploded brain" or, as trappers call them, “jelly heads.” This is a cruel and agonizing death for the victim. "Jelly head" occurs when the snare constricts the jugular vein on the outside of the neck, cutting off blood returning to the heart; meanwhile, the carotid artery continues to pump blood into the brain, causing brain swelling and eventually rupture.
A mammal scientist in Maine (for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife) was conducting a study of snared coyotes when he noticed an alarming trend. After he checked 94 snared coyotes, he noticed a large proportion of carcasses that had fractured limbs, broken teeth, bullet holes, and grotesquely swollen heads (Jelly Heads). In a memo to his supervisor, Jukubas wrote, "Anyone who has had a migraine knows what it feels like to have swollen blood vessels in the head. To have blood vessels burst because of pressure must be excruciating”.
Almost one-third of the animals Jakubas examined were ‘jellyheads’. Almost another third had been clubbed or shot, indicating that snares do not kill quickly (as the industry claims they do). Additionally, longtime Maine trapper Bill Randall said the sight of an animal that died in a neck snare was the goriest visual display of animal cruelty he had ever seen.
Despite the nearly universal agreement by the trapping/fur industry that killing neck snares are lethal, and humane, numerous photos, and videos and trappers' own testimonials on hunting/trapping sites attest to the fact that killing snares aren't the lethal devices that they are portrayed to be. See the gallery and videos below to see some of these testimonials from trappers themselves as well as the truth that snaring does not result in a the quick painless death they want the public to believe.
Retired Predator Control Officer reports the in-humaneness of snares HERE and HERE
A veterinarian removes an embedded snare from the neck of a wolf that managed to survive
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Wolf with a snare around a limb
Another limb that has been caught in a snare
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A wolf with a snare embedded in it's neck caught on a trail camera photo near RMH Alberta April 2016
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A wolf with a snare embedded in it's neck caught on a trail camera photo near RMH Alberta April 2016
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Trapper admits to finding coyote snared on two hind toes
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Trapper admits to finding coyote snared on two hind toes
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Trapper testimonial of finding a coyote snared by two of it's hind toes.
Killing Neck Snares and Trapping Standards
Do you think this poor animal died in 300 seconds or less?
Since snares are clearly inhumane by any standard and should therefore be illegal, why are they are allowed here in Alberta? Because the provincial government has declared them to be “lethal/killing devices” - even though they have never been officially or thoroughly tested. Until proven otherwise, their use can continue.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies states that snares "cause an agonizing prolonged death and restraining snares cause animals to suffer excruciating pain when caught by their limb". Although killing neck snares are used on trap lines in Canada to capture gray wolves coyotes, and foxes, they are not subject to trap performance criteria set out in the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) as they are considered to be lethal killing devices.
What does this mean?
The Fur Institute of Canada under the AIHTS, has certified a “humane” death for a wolf captured in a “lethal/killing” device (in which snares are labelled despite lack of adequate testing and proof otherwise), as being irreversibly unconscious within 300 seconds of capture. Under laboratory conditions, it takes approximately eight minutes to strangle a canid (dog, wolf, coyote etc). For an eight-minute death (three minutes longer than what is considered to be humane) to occur by snaring, the snare must be positioned in an exact location on the neck – not too far ahead or too far back, and oxygen and blood flow must be stopped instantly. Furthermore, the lock must function without binding or plugging with hair etc. Since manual killing snares depend entirely on the animals own strength to tighten the noose and thereby strangle itself, there are a multitude of factors which can interfere with the snaring process.
Read more about AIHTS and Alberta Trapping Regulations below:
Alberta Trapping Regulations
Humane Trapping - Alberta Website
Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards - Environment and Climate Change Canada
Fur Institute of Canada
Compendium of Canada's Engagement in International Environmental Agreements
BUT WHAT DOES THE AIHTS REALLY MEAN FOR ANIMALS?
- In 1995, the European Union passed a progressive ban on the use of leg-hold traps in all its member countries, as well as a ban on fur from any country still using leg-hold traps. In response, Canada threatened the EU with economic punishments under The General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- Sadly, the EU conceded and exempted Canada from their ban when Canada, the USA and Russia instead proposed “The Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards” (AIHTS). This agreement was based on the commitment to develop and use only “humane” traps, and with the understanding that the agreement would lead to the banning of leg-hold traps. What it did instead was put an official "humane" seal of approval on business-as-usual and provided the fur industry with a sound bite about their commitment to ‘humaneness’ while changing very little about the actual practices. This exercise in deception exists entirely because the majority of the Canadian and international public are against the trapping of animals.
- The standards apply to 12 animals routinely killed for fur (beaver, muskrat, otter, weasel, marten, fisher, raccoon, badger, coyote, wolf, lynx and bobcat). Noticeably missing from the agreement are minks, foxes, and wolverines. As it stands, the same traps that have been used for 40 years are still allowed, including snares, which are considered extremely inhumane even by moderate groups like the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS). Additionally, the agreement falls short in providing basic welfare guarantees for all trapped animals.
- The agreement states that for killing traps (Conibear, snare, drowning sets):
Gilbert Proulx further states: "a footnote to Article 7 in the AIHTS stipulates that the standards do not prevent individuals from constructing and using traps (which may not pass the 300 sec test), provided that such traps comply with designs approved by the relevant competent authority.
Although killing neck snares are commonly manufactured and sold on the open market, they are deemed by all relevant Canadian competent agencies to be non-commercial devices and therefore not subject to the AIHTS. As a result, they may be used throughout Canada in accordance with provincial and territorial regulations. For example, in Alberta, Environment and Parks is the relevant competent authority and it dictates the appropriate design for neck snares as: “Neck snares must be equipped with a locking device that is designed and set to prevent the snare loop from loosening again after it has tightened on the neck of the fur-bearing animal."
It is clear to see that killing neck snares severely impact the welfare of captured animals in a manner similar to that of steel leg hold traps, which have been deemed unacceptable at the international level. It is therefore difficult to understand how killing neck snares became an exception in AIHTS’s standards.
This quick explanation of the AIHTS provided by Fur Bearer Defenders sums it up nicely:
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies states that snares "cause an agonizing prolonged death and restraining snares cause animals to suffer excruciating pain when caught by their limb". Although killing neck snares are used on trap lines in Canada to capture gray wolves coyotes, and foxes, they are not subject to trap performance criteria set out in the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS) as they are considered to be lethal killing devices.
What does this mean?
The Fur Institute of Canada under the AIHTS, has certified a “humane” death for a wolf captured in a “lethal/killing” device (in which snares are labelled despite lack of adequate testing and proof otherwise), as being irreversibly unconscious within 300 seconds of capture. Under laboratory conditions, it takes approximately eight minutes to strangle a canid (dog, wolf, coyote etc). For an eight-minute death (three minutes longer than what is considered to be humane) to occur by snaring, the snare must be positioned in an exact location on the neck – not too far ahead or too far back, and oxygen and blood flow must be stopped instantly. Furthermore, the lock must function without binding or plugging with hair etc. Since manual killing snares depend entirely on the animals own strength to tighten the noose and thereby strangle itself, there are a multitude of factors which can interfere with the snaring process.
Read more about AIHTS and Alberta Trapping Regulations below:
Alberta Trapping Regulations
Humane Trapping - Alberta Website
Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards - Environment and Climate Change Canada
Fur Institute of Canada
Compendium of Canada's Engagement in International Environmental Agreements
BUT WHAT DOES THE AIHTS REALLY MEAN FOR ANIMALS?
- In 1995, the European Union passed a progressive ban on the use of leg-hold traps in all its member countries, as well as a ban on fur from any country still using leg-hold traps. In response, Canada threatened the EU with economic punishments under The General Agreement of Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- Sadly, the EU conceded and exempted Canada from their ban when Canada, the USA and Russia instead proposed “The Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards” (AIHTS). This agreement was based on the commitment to develop and use only “humane” traps, and with the understanding that the agreement would lead to the banning of leg-hold traps. What it did instead was put an official "humane" seal of approval on business-as-usual and provided the fur industry with a sound bite about their commitment to ‘humaneness’ while changing very little about the actual practices. This exercise in deception exists entirely because the majority of the Canadian and international public are against the trapping of animals.
- The standards apply to 12 animals routinely killed for fur (beaver, muskrat, otter, weasel, marten, fisher, raccoon, badger, coyote, wolf, lynx and bobcat). Noticeably missing from the agreement are minks, foxes, and wolverines. As it stands, the same traps that have been used for 40 years are still allowed, including snares, which are considered extremely inhumane even by moderate groups like the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS). Additionally, the agreement falls short in providing basic welfare guarantees for all trapped animals.
- The agreement states that for killing traps (Conibear, snare, drowning sets):
- The following times between trapping and loss of consciousness or death are required for 80% of trapped animals: 45 seconds for ermines; 2 minutes for martens; 5 minutes for all other species. This is a completely unenforceable standard in the wild.
- Since only 80% of animals have to be 'protected' on paper, this means that20% of all animals, under the AIHTS, are allowed to suffer as they wait to die.
- The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) finds these numbers troubling too. They note that "the standard for the time between trapping and loss of consciousness or death for killing traps has not been decreased as was originally intended" in the AIHTS agreement.
- "Restraining traps leave an animal to suffer great stress and pain, and ideally standards would prevent an animal from suffering in this way".
- "Killing traps should cause instant death but the Agreement permits some animals to struggle for up to five minutes – and 20% are permitted to exceed that time".
- "Although the steel jaw leghold trap is outlawed in Canada, other leghold traps that cause suffering are still widely used.
- "Foxes and mink are not included in the agreement".
- "Traps classified as inhumane can still be used while research is ongoing, which means their use can continue indefinitely".
- "Snares, which are very inhumane, are still permitted".
Gilbert Proulx further states: "a footnote to Article 7 in the AIHTS stipulates that the standards do not prevent individuals from constructing and using traps (which may not pass the 300 sec test), provided that such traps comply with designs approved by the relevant competent authority.
Although killing neck snares are commonly manufactured and sold on the open market, they are deemed by all relevant Canadian competent agencies to be non-commercial devices and therefore not subject to the AIHTS. As a result, they may be used throughout Canada in accordance with provincial and territorial regulations. For example, in Alberta, Environment and Parks is the relevant competent authority and it dictates the appropriate design for neck snares as: “Neck snares must be equipped with a locking device that is designed and set to prevent the snare loop from loosening again after it has tightened on the neck of the fur-bearing animal."
It is clear to see that killing neck snares severely impact the welfare of captured animals in a manner similar to that of steel leg hold traps, which have been deemed unacceptable at the international level. It is therefore difficult to understand how killing neck snares became an exception in AIHTS’s standards.
This quick explanation of the AIHTS provided by Fur Bearer Defenders sums it up nicely:
Environment and Parks Minister Shannon Phillips states trapping practices conform to the highest standards for humane and ethical trapping. Do snares look ethical and humane to you?
A page from the Alberta trapping regulations explaining snare set up and use.
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The narrative under "Humane Trapping" from the trapping regulations of Alberta contradicts what snares do.
From the trapping guidelines, explaining what constitutes a killing device. The Alberta government considers snares to be killing devices. We can clearly see that is not the case.
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Snare Use and Non Target Species
Another consequence of snare use (as with all forms of trapping), is the capture and death of unintended victims known as non target or by-catch animals. Non target species often include deer, moose, wolverines, cougars, caribou, lynx, bears, birds, farm animals, pets and even people.
Cougars, in particular, are vulnerable to neck snares meant for wolves. a 2010 report noted that 11% of the cougar population in west central Alberta died in snares as by-catch.
Between 1990 and 2014, The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative received 157 submissions of non-target snare captures that represented 8 species of mammals and 8 species of birds (See Table below from Proulx study). Note that this likely represents only a small proportion of the snared animals that die and go undetected or unreported by people.
Cougars, in particular, are vulnerable to neck snares meant for wolves. a 2010 report noted that 11% of the cougar population in west central Alberta died in snares as by-catch.
Between 1990 and 2014, The Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative received 157 submissions of non-target snare captures that represented 8 species of mammals and 8 species of birds (See Table below from Proulx study). Note that this likely represents only a small proportion of the snared animals that die and go undetected or unreported by people.
Deer caught in a snare
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Dog with limb caught in a snare
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From an Alberta trapping forum - A snare meant for a wolf, instead kills a young caribou - a threatened species in Alberta
Resources/News articles related to Snaring for Further Information:
Humaneness and Selectivity of Killing Neck Snares Used to Capture Canids in Canada: A Review by Gilbert PROULX, Dwight RODTKA, Morley W. BARRETT, Marc CATTET, Dick DEKKER, Erin MOFFATT, Roger A. POWELL below:
| 2015-1-proulx_final_kiling_neck_snares.pdf |
Alberta's Wolf Failures by Kevin Van Tighem:
| albertaswolffailures.pdf |
Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS)
| a1_2015_iea_compendium_2-pager_aihts_en_final.pdf |
Traumatic, degenerative, and developmental lesions in wolves and coyotes from Saskatchewan by G. Wobeser
| journal_of_wildlife.pdf |
Review of Current Mammal Trap Technology in North America by Gilbert Proulx (1999)
| 43_-_1999_-_review_of_trap_technology.pdf |
