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The Hidden Danger on Your Favourite Trail:
An Educational Guide to Understanding and Identifying Snares
Snares are one of the most common and destructive methods used in illegal wildlife trapping. They are designed to capture animals by tightening around the neck, body, or limbs. Understanding how snares work, how to identify them, and how to respond safely is critical for conservation, education, and field awareness. A snare is a trapping device made from wire, rope, cable, or similar material. It is anchored to a fixed object such as a tree, fence post, or bush, and forms a loop that tightens when an animal passes through it. Some snares are designed to target specific species, while others are general-purpose traps capable of catching any animal that moves through the area. South Africa lacks national snaring statistics, but data indicate severe ecological damage. If approximately 10,000 snares are removed monthly (about 10% of the total), tens of thousands remain active. Using conservative estimates, 1% of snares contain carcasses and 10% trap animals, leading to around 11,000 animals removed from ecosystems each month. Snares are often replaced as soon as they are found, meaning the cycle continues with devastating long-term effects on biodiversity and population stability. Snares may be made from cable wire, nylon rope, or fencing wire. Common variations include: Bird Snares: Often use a cage or a bent branch that triggers a whip-like action. Web Snares: Multiple loops attached to a square frame of branches, forming a "web." Pole Snares: Loops attached to a branch or log, allowing the animal to drag the pole. General Ground Snares: Simple wire or rope loops attached to trees, brush, or fixed objects. Trawling Snares: A long wire, 10 to 50 meters with multiple snares attached in a straight line. Foot Snares: Camouflaged on the ground with grass or leaves; triggered when stepped on.
Poachers often utilize unusual objects found in the environment as common snare markers. These markers serve several purposes: they help identify the locations of snares, warn other poachers not to interfere, and act as coordinates for team operations. These natural markers can include subtle changes in the environment, such as dead leaves amidst otherwise green foliage, or branches that are broken, bent, or stripped of thorns unnaturally. Essentially, any unusual object in the surroundings can function as a marker.
Poachers also use various items such as plastic bags, any plastic tied to trees or fences, cans or bottles, spray paint on rocks or trees, pieces of fabric tied to branches, and colored tape or ribbons as snare markers. There are many more signs you can look out for, for example: Rocks moved, stacked, arranged in lines or arrows, or look out of place (e.g., a dark stone among light ones). Flattened grass in dense bush, or tied together in bunches. Soil that appears recently disturbed, or small trenches or grooves dug into the ground. Dead branches that don't match nearby trees or brush that is arranged unnaturally. Footprints leading off-path or stopping abruptly. Because the human brain cannot focus on fine detail continuously, it helps to use systematic scanning techniques when searching for snares: Walk with the sun behind you and scan landscape contours to identify anything out of alignment with nature. Wires and cables catch the light and are easier to see. Move your eyes left to right, then right to left, 10–20 meters ahead. Look for broken shapes, unnatural lines, or odd silhouettes. Colours, textures, shapes, and shadows are clues. Check inside the brush and into bushes, undergrowth, and around tree trunks for anything out of place. Trust your instincts; if something feels wrong or unnatural, investigate and look for markers. Remove markers if found and expect multiple snares; where there is one, there are more. Circle around the area where a snare is found, continuously increasing the size of the circle. Inspect fence lines and look for vertical wires among horizontal ones, skew poles, and gaps in fences. Dogs can detect carcasses or recent animal activity. If your dog wanders off a path, follow it.
How to Safely Remove a Snare if you find one: Removing snares must be done carefully, both for safety and evidence documentation (photographs). Wear gloves and use proper tools. Snares with carcasses carry bacteria and disease. Use pliers or side cutters. Photograph the snare, anchor point, markers, footprints, and surrounding disturbance. Keep the snare intact. Only cut it at the anchor if necessary. Preserving it helps with data and reporting. Pin-drop the location or mark coordinates for reporting or future patrols, and data and evidence.
If an animal is alive in the snare, you must prioritise human safety, as injured/trapped wildlife can be extremely dangerous. Do not rush in or attempt a rescue alone. Immediately contact an emergency wildlife first responder, a veterinarian, or a wildlife rescue organization. Provide photos, species ID (e.g., serval vs. African wildcat), description of the animal's condition, and exact location. Retreat and wait for professionals. Only trained personnel should handle live animals in snares. Snares are not a problem that exists "somewhere else." They can be found right here in Swellendam, on private farms, along river corridors, in plantations, and even inside our protected natural areas such as reserves and parks. These silent traps operate whether we see them or not, making community awareness essential. Every walker, trail runner, landowner, cyclist, farmer, dog-walker, and visitor has the power to help. The more eyes we have on the ground, the more wildlife we can save. By learning what to look for, staying alert, and knowing how to respond safely, we strengthen our collective ability to protect the biodiversity that surrounds us. Together, through awareness and action, we can reduce snare-related suffering and help keep Swellendam's landscapes safe for both wildlife, people and our pets.
Article and photos provided by SBC member Thomas Blom.
May the spirit of Christmas bring you warmth, the joy of Christmas give you happiness, and the hope of Christmas fill your heart.
