Snare vs. Trap — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 22, 2024
A snare specifically refers to a wire or string loop designed to catch animals by entangling parts of the body, whereas a trap is a broader term that encompasses various devices designed to catch, or confine animals or insects.
Difference Between Snare and Trap
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A snare is a type of trap specifically designed to catch animals by the neck or limbs using a looped wire or cord that tightens under the animal's own movement. On the other hand, traps can be mechanical or adhesive and include designs like cage traps, glue traps, and snap traps, suitable for a wider range of purposes and species.
Snares are often used for their portability and simplicity, making them a popular choice among survivalists and those controlling wildlife populations. In contrast, traps can vary significantly in complexity, from simple flypaper to sophisticated electronic rodent traps.
Regulations surrounding the use of snares are strict, often requiring specific permits and adherence to wildlife conservation laws, reflecting their potential to cause harm if used indiscriminately. Traps also face regulatory scrutiny, but the rules can be broader or more lenient depending on the type of trap and its intended use.
In terms of ethical considerations, the use of snares is sometimes contested due to the risk of injuring animals. Traps, depending on their design, can be seen as more humane or more cruel, with innovations continually seeking to reduce animal suffering.
Comparison Chart
Usage
Primarily for capturing animals alive by restraining them.
Varies; can be used to capture animals and insects.
ADVERTISEMENT
Complexity
Simple, portable, and easy to set up.
Ranges from simple to highly complex designs.
Ethical Considerations
High risk of causing injury or suffering; often regulated.
Ethical impact varies by design; some aim to kill quickly, others to capture.
Regulations
Strict, with specific permits and guidelines necessary.
Broad, varying by trap type and jurisdiction; generally less strict than snares.
Compare with Definitions
Snare
A device made of a wire or cord loop that tightens around an animal’s body to restrain it.
He set a snare in the woods to catch the foxes harming his poultry.
Trap
A device or enclosure designed to catch and retain animals, typically by allowing entry but not exit.
He placed a trap by the garden to catch the rabbits eating the vegetables.
Snare
A loop used metaphorically to describe a trap for humans in various contexts.
The new policy was a snare for the unwary investors.
Trap
In sports, a situation where a player is unable to play a clear shot.
The golfer found himself in a sand trap.
Snare
A trapping technique used for capturing game or pests alive.
Using a snare requires knowledge of animal paths and behavior.
Trap
To capture or confine using a trapping device or mechanism.
They trapped the wild cat to relocate it safely.
Snare
In music, a drum characterized by wires stretched across a resonating head.
The drummer's quick rolls on the snare set the pace for the band.
Trap
A device for removing debris from drainage systems.
A grease trap is essential in commercial kitchens to prevent blockages.
Snare
To catch or involve by or as if by a snare; to entangle.
He was snared into the scam without realizing the consequences.
Trap
Something designed to catch unawares or deceive; a stratagem.
The contract clause was a trap for the company, leading to legal issues.
Snare
A trap for catching birds or mammals, typically one having a noose of wire or cord.
Trap
A contrivance for catching and holding animals, as a concealed pit or a clamplike device that springs shut suddenly.
Snare
A length of wire, gut, or hide stretched across a drumhead to produce a rattling sound.
Trap
A stratagem for catching or tricking an unwary person.
Snare
A wire loop for severing polyps or other growths.
Trap
A confining or undesirable circumstance from which escape or relief is difficult:fell into poverty's trap.
Snare
Catch (a bird or mammal) in a snare
The foxes were humanely snared
Trap
A device for sealing a passage against the escape of gases, especially a U-shaped or S-shaped bend in a drainpipe that prevents the return flow of sewer gas by means of a water barrier.
Snare
A trapping device, often consisting of a noose, used for capturing birds and small mammals.
Trap
A device that hurls clay pigeons into the air in trapshooting.
Snare
Something that lures or entangles the unwary
The snares of merchandisers.
The snare of debt.
Trap
A land hazard or bunker on a golf course; a sand trap.
Snare
A surgical instrument with a wire loop controlled by a mechanism in the handle, used to remove growths, such as tumors and polyps.
Trap
TrapsA measured length of roadway over which electronic timers register the speed of a racing vehicle, such as a dragster.
Snare
Any of the wires or cords stretched across the lower drumhead of a snare drum so as to vibrate against it.
Trap
(Baseball)See web.
Snare
A snare drum.
Trap
A defensive strategy or play, as in basketball or hockey, in which two or more defenders converge on an offensive player shortly after the player gains possession of the ball or puck.
Snare
To trap with or as if with a snare.
Trap
The act of trapping a soccer ball.
Snare
To get hold or control of (something difficult to catch)
The fielder snared the ground ball.
Trap
(Football)A running play in which the ball carrier advances through a hole in the defensive line created by allowing a defensive lineman to penetrate the backfield.
Snare
A trap (especially one made from a loop of wire, string, or leather).
Trap
A light two-wheeled carriage with springs.
Snare
A mental or psychological trap.
Trap
A trapdoor.
Snare
(veterinary) A loop of cord used in obstetric cases, to hold or to pull a fetus from the mother animal.
Trap
Traps(Music)Percussion instruments, such as snare drums and cymbals, especially in a jazz band.
Snare
(surgery) A similar looped instrument formerly used to remove tumours etc.
Trap
(Slang)The human mouth.
Snare
(music) A set of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin of a drum to create a rattling sound.
Trap
Often traps Personal belongings or household goods.
Snare
(music) A snare drum.
Trap
Any of several dark, fine-grained igneous rocks often used in making roads.
Snare
(transitive) To catch or hold, especially with a loop.
Trap
To catch in a trap; ensnare.
Snare
To ensnare.
Trap
To prevent from escaping or getting free:was trapped in the locked attic.
Snare
A contrivance, often consisting of a noose of cord, or the like, by which a bird or other animal may be entangled and caught; a trap; a gin.
Trap
To deceive or trick by means of a scheme or plan.
Snare
Hence, anything by which one is entangled and brought into trouble.
If thou retire, the Dauphin, well appointed,Stands with the snares of war to tangle thee.
Trap
To seal off (gases) by a trap.
Snare
The gut or string stretched across the lower head of a drum.
Trap
To furnish with traps or a trap.
Snare
An instrument, consisting usually of a wireloop or noose, for removing tumors, etc., by avulsion.
Trap
To catch (a ball) immediately after it has hit the ground.
Snare
To catch with a snare; to insnare; to entangle; hence, to bring into unexpected evil, perplexity, or danger.
Lest that too heavenly form . . . snare them.
The mournful crocodileWith sorrow snares relenting passengers.
Trap
To gain control of (a moving soccer ball) by allowing it to hit and bounce off a part of the body other than the arm or hand.
Snare
Something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares;
The exam was full of trap questions
It was all a snare and delusion
Trap
To set traps for game.
Snare
A small drum with two heads and a snare stretched across the lower head
Trap
To engage in trapping furbearing animals.
Snare
A surgical instrument consisting of wire hoop that can be drawn tight around the base of polyps or small tumors to sever them; used especially in body cavities
Trap
To furnish with trappings.
Snare
Strings stretched across the lower head of a snare drum; they make a rattling sound when the drum is hit
Trap
A trick or arrangement designed to catch someone in a more general sense; a snare.
Unfortunately she fell into the trap of confusing biology with destiny.
Snare
A trap for birds or small mammals; often has a noose
Trap
A covering over a hole or opening; a trapdoor.
Close the trap, would you, before someone falls and breaks their neck.
Snare
Catch in or as if in a trap;
The men trap foxes
Trap
A kind of movable stepladder or set of stairs.
Snare
Entice and trap;
The car salesman had snared three potential customers
Trap
A wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a shoe, used in the game of trapball.
Trap
The game of trapball itself.
Trap
Any device used to hold and suddenly release an object.
They shot out of the school gates like greyhounds out of the trap.
Trap
A bend, sag, or other device in a waste-pipe arranged so that the liquid contents form a seal which prevents the escape of noxious gases, but permits the flow of liquids.
Trap
A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for lack of an outlet.
Trap
A successful landing on an aircraft carrier using the carrier's arresting gear.
After 100 traps, the arresting cables have to be replaced to minimize the danger of a worn or fatigued cable snapping under an aircraft.
Trap
(historical) A light two-wheeled carriage with springs.
A horse and trap
Trap
(slang) A person's mouth.
Keep your trap shut.
Trap
A policeman.
Trap
(in the plural) Belongings.
Trap
(slang) A cubicle (in a public toilet).
I've just laid a cable in trap 2 so I'd give it 5 minutes if I were you.
Trap
(sports) Trapshooting.
Trap
(geology) A geological structure that creates a petroleum reservoir.
Trap
(computing) An exception generated by the processor or by an external event.
Trap
A mining license inspector during the Australian gold rush.
Trap
A vehicle, residential building, or sidewalk corner where drugs are manufactured, packaged, or sold.
Trap phone
Trap car
Trap
Someone who is anatomically male but who passes as female.
Trap
A fictional character from anime, or related media, who is coded as or has qualities typically associated with a gender other than the character's ostensible gender; otokonoko, josou.
Trap
A genre of hip-hop music, with half-time drums and heavy sub-bass.
Trap
The money earned by a prostitute for a pimp.
Trap
An area, especially of a city, with a low level of opportunity and a high level of poverty and crime; a ghetto; a hood.
Trap
A dark coloured igneous rock, now used to designate any non-granitic igneous rock; trap rock.
Trap
The trapezius muscle.
Trap
(transitive) To physically capture, to catch in a trap or traps, or something like a trap.
To trap foxes
Trap
(transitive) To ensnare; to take by stratagem; to entrap.
Trap
(transitive) To provide with a trap.
To trap a drain
To trap a sewer pipe
Trap
(intransitive) To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game.
Trap for beaver
Trap
To successfully land an aircraft on an aircraft carrier using the carrier's arresting gear.
After three consecutive bolters, the pilot finally trapped successfully on the Nimitz.
Trap
(intransitive) To leave suddenly, to flee.
Trap
To sell illegal drugs, especially in a public area.
Trap
To capture (e.g. an error) in order to handle or process it.
Trap
To attend to and open and close a (trap-)door.
Trap
To dress with ornaments; to adorn (especially said of horses).
Trap
To dress with ornaments; to adorn; - said especially of horses.
Steeds . . . that trapped were in steel all glittering.
To deck his hearse, and trap his tomb-black steed.
There she found her palfrey trapped In purple blazoned with armorial gold.
Trap
To catch in a trap or traps; as, to trap foxes.
Trap
Fig.: To insnare; to take by stratagem; to entrap.
Trap
To provide with a trap; as, to trap a drain; to trap a sewer pipe. See 4th Trap, 5.
Trap
To set traps for game; to make a business of trapping game; as, to trap for beaver.
Trap
An old term rather loosely used to designate various dark-colored, heavy igneous rocks, including especially the feldspathic-augitic rocks, basalt, dolerite, amygdaloid, etc., but including also some kinds of diorite. Called also trap rock.
Trap
A machine or contrivance that shuts suddenly, as with a spring, used for taking game or other animals; as, a trap for foxes.
She would weep if that she saw a mouseCaught in a trap.
Trap
Fig.: A snare; an ambush; a stratagem; any device by which one may be caught unawares.
Let their table be made a snare and a trap.
God and your majestyProtect mine innocence, or I fall intoThe trap is laid for me!
Trap
A wooden instrument shaped somewhat like a shoe, used in the game of trapball. It consists of a pivoted arm on one end of which is placed the ball to be thrown into the air by striking the other end. Also, a machine for throwing into the air glass balls, clay pigeons, etc., to be shot at.
Trap
The game of trapball.
Trap
A bend, sag, or partitioned chamber, in a drain, soil pipe, sewer, etc., arranged so that the liquid contents form a seal which prevents passage of air or gas, but permits the flow of liquids.
Trap
A place in a water pipe, pump, etc., where air accumulates for want of an outlet.
Trap
A wagon, or other vehicle.
Trap
A kind of movable stepladder.
Trap
Of or pertaining to trap rock; as, a trap dike.
Trap
A device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
Trap
Drain consisting of a U-shaped section of drainpipe that holds liquid and so prevents a return flow of sewer gas
Trap
Something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares;
The exam was full of trap questions
It was all a snare and delusion
Trap
A device to hurl clay pigeons into the air for trapshooters
Trap
The act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise
Trap
Informal terms for the mouth
Trap
A light two-wheeled carriage
Trap
A hazard on a golf course
Trap
Place in a confining or embarrassing position;
He was trapped in a difficult situation
Trap
Catch in or as if in a trap;
The men trap foxes
Trap
Hold or catch as if in a trap;
The gaps between the teeth trap food particles
Trap
To hold fast or prevent from moving;
The child was pinned under the fallen tree
Common Curiosities
What are the common materials used to make snares?
Snares are commonly made from steel wire or synthetic cord, chosen for durability and strength.
What safety considerations should be taken when using traps?
When using traps, it's important to consider the safety of both the user and the animal, ensuring traps are checked regularly and placed away from human activity.
How do snares differ from traps in terms of setup?
Snares involve setting up a wire or cord loop that tightens under an animal’s movement, while traps can vary from mechanical setups to chemical and electronic systems.
How do environmental conditions affect the effectiveness of snares and traps?
Adverse weather can affect the mechanical components of traps and may cause snares to fail or not perform as expected, reducing their effectiveness.
Can snares be used in urban areas?
Generally, the use of snares in urban areas is restricted or banned due to the higher risk of capturing non-target animals and pets.
Do traps require maintenance?
Yes, especially mechanical traps, which may need regular cleaning, lubrication, and inspection to ensure they function properly.
What training is required to properly set and use a snare?
Proper training involves understanding animal behavior, tracking, and learning the legal and ethical use of snares to minimize harm and increase effectiveness.
What are the implications of improperly using traps?
Improper use of traps can lead to unintended captures, non-target species injuries, and potential legal consequences.
Are there any alternatives to using snares or traps for animal control?
Alternatives include exclusion techniques, repellents, and habitat modification to deter animals without physically capturing them.
How do wildlife conservation laws impact the use of snares and traps?
Wildlife conservation laws regulate the use of snares and traps to protect animal populations and biodiversity, often requiring permits and adherence to humane standards.
What is the role of traps in research and scientific studies?
Traps are essential tools in ecological research for studying animal populations, behavior, and for monitoring endangered species.
Are there specific seasons or times when using snares or traps is more effective?
The effectiveness of snares and traps can vary with seasons, as animal activity changes with breeding cycles and weather conditions, affecting when and where they are most effective.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Intaglio vs. Gravure
Next Comparison
Arid vs. DryAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
