# Killing Neck Snares Are Inhumane and Non-Selective, and Should Be Banned

## TL;DR

This paper argues that killing neck snares are inhumane and non-selective, causing unnecessary harm to animals and should be banned.

## Contribution

The paper compiles 50 years of evidence to demonstrate the inhumane and non-selective nature of killing neck snares.

## Key findings

- Killing neck snares do not render animals unconscious quickly and may cause prolonged suffering.
- These snares capture many non-target species, threatening local biodiversity.
- Their continued use is attributed to misinformation and weak trapping standards.

## Abstract

This paper reviews scientific evidence gathered in the last 50 years showing that both manual and power killing neck snares are inhumane, i.e., they do not quickly render captured animals unconscious, and are non-selective, i.e., they capture many non-target species. The paper explores why killing neck snares are still being used in spite of their shortcomings, and presents a series of questions regarding steps that should be taken to ban them.

In North America, where fur trapping remains an active practice, killing neck snares continue to be used for capturing canids, particularly red fox (Vulpes vulpes), coyote (Canis latrans), and gray wolf (Canis lupus). However, over the last 50 years, scientific studies have consistently demonstrated that killing neck snares are inhumane—meaning that snared animals do not lose consciousness within five minutes and may remain alive for hours—and non-selective, often capturing a wide range of non-target wild and domestic animals. This non-selectivity can contribute to the local extirpation of certain species. The continued use of killing neck snares reflects a disregard for the welfare of wild mammals and poses risks to the sustainability of their populations. This persistence appears to be driven by misinformation, widespread myths, and inadequately implemented international trapping standards. These issues lead to critical questions about what must be performed to prohibit the use of these devices.