It is a brutal, yet simple trap. A wire loop encircles the animal's body (leg, abdomen, neck, etc.). As the animal struggles, the loop tightens... and tightens. Sometimes the animal will slowly strangulate himself, choking to death. Sometimes he will suffer alive until the trapper returns to kill him.

Pole Snares

Snares are often used to catch squirrels. Several snares are attached to one suspended pole. The sound of one trapped squirrel attracts the others. There they hang, alive, dangling off the pole by their trapped body part until the trapper returns.

Bear Chews His Own Foot Off

In summer of 1996, a bear trapped in a leg snare by government of British Columbia Fish and Wildlife officials, chewed off its own foot, in a desperate attempt to escape.