A HUMANE SNARE

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 194, 13 May 1922, Page 2

A HUMANE SNARE

FOR CATCHING RABBITS. From' time to time there is an' outcry in the Dominion against the system- of trapping rabbits with the ordinary steel snap-traps, which break the le<js of the animals and cause a painful, lingering death. From England the local branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has received particulars and samples of what is known as the “humane snare,” but whether such a device is practicable in a country like New Zealand and where there are millions of rabbits to bo destroyed, is another matter altogether. The “humane snare” is simply a slip noose of flexible wire with a knot about 5J inches from the end, which make's a noose tight enough to hold the rabbit without injuring it in any way. The idea is that the noose is placed over the hole and bunny on emerging pokes his head through it, and as he goes forward the noose tightens round the neck as far as the knot will permit, and he is held unharmed until the trapper conies along to give him a quick dispatch. The end of the wire has to bo fastened to a wooden peg near the hole. In England these snares, which are supplied at one penny eacn, are said to have been used with good effect. The “humane snare” (says an English circular) has been largely used in many parts of the country and is recommended by all humane people who desire to see rabbits dispatched with as little cruelty as possible. In Scotland, we are informed, it has been in use for it very great number of years, and His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. on whose estate, amongst others, it is used, says: —“I have always recommended this kind of snare. > It prac-' tically prevents other animals from getting caught. For instance, in an ordinary snare sheep are apt to be caught, and in a fox-hunting county foxes get caught by the legs in snares. . . . If' everyone would adopt the snare you mention it would bo a great advantage from every point of view.” Another expert snarer says: “Out of one hundred and twenty rabbits taken by this (stop noose) snare, we have had no bulged eyes, no swollen heads, no lacerated necks —the common results of slow strangulation by tho ordinary snare. This snare is also superior to the ordinary snare from a commercial point of view as the rabbit caught by it is in a better condition for purposes of sale.” Finally, it is recommended by the Board of Agriculture. A sample of the new snare may be seen ai the office of tho secretary 'of tho local S.P.C.A. (Mr. Anderson), who is prepared to furnish all particulars about it.