The use of cruel snare traps that capture animals by the neck with wire nooses is set to be prohibited as part of a significant Animal Welfare Strategy. These traps subject animals to prolonged suffering without access to essentials like water, food, and shelter. Advocates have been pushing for England to outlaw these indiscriminate traps to align with Wales and Scotland.
Official data indicates that over 200,000 wire snares are currently concealed in the English countryside, though the actual number is suspected to be much higher. These barbaric devices constrict around the neck, body, or limbs of animals, inflicting immense agony before the animal is either shot or faces a slow death.
Snares often unintentionally capture companion animals like dogs and non-target species such as hares and badgers. Incidents like a fox caught in a snare on Sandringham’s King Charles estate sparked public outrage last year, highlighting the brutality of these traps.
A YouGov survey conducted earlier this year revealed that 71% of adults in England believe that snares should be illegal. The government’s forthcoming Animal Welfare Strategy, to be released on Monday, will address this pressing issue.
Emma Slawinski, the chief executive of the League Against Cruel Sports, emphasized the ongoing threat posed by snares in rural areas, not only to targeted animals but also to unintended victims. She praised the government for taking decisive action to outlaw these inhumane traps.
Animal Welfare Minister Baroness Hayman affirmed the government’s commitment to ending animal cruelty, stating that the ban on snare traps aligns with their manifesto pledge. Additionally, she hinted at further reviews of wildlife traps with welfare concerns and potential future actions to enhance animal protection.