Methods for Snaring a Bobcat

Bobcats are effective predators that can be a nuisance to farmers and ranchers trying to raise livestock. These wild felines are known to kill a whole host of animals including turkeys, chicken, sheep, goats, house cats and small dogs. The best way to protect farm animals from a bobcat is to trap the predator with a snare. Bobcats are reclusive animals; snaring one involves knowing which methods work best and using a bobcat's natural tendencies to your advantage.

  1. Setting up a Snare

    • Snaring a bobcat is not as complicated as trapping a coyote or fox; still, it does require some expertise to properly set such a snare. One advantage of using a snare is that you can place them in the same locations as steel body traps without posing a danger to pets or other wildlife. A snare is most effective in cubbyholes, bobcat runways or den entrances. Snares should always be set on trails on which bobcats are known to travel while hunting for food or shelter.

    Kill Snares

    • A kill snare is used only after previous attempts to relocate a bobcat have failed or if a fur trapper has a permit to trap bobcats during fur season. Kill snares are made from 1/16-inch steel cable and should be tied off to a tree at least 3 inches or thicker in diameter. The loop needs to be 6-8 inches in diameter, and the bottom of the loop should be 10-12 inches off the ground. 2- foot long stakes need to be hammered into the ground with 6-8 inches showing; this will keep the snare far enough off of the ground to cause a quick kill when the bobcat triggers it.

    Live Snares

    • As their name suggests, live snares are designed to capture and hold bobcats alive. A live snare differs from a kill snare in various ways. It uses larger steel cables and relaxed locks so the trapped animal can breathe normally once it stops struggling. A live snare uses a 3/32-inch steel cable that is 6-8 feet long. The loop is set in the same dimensions as a kill snare, but the stakes are hammered down far enough that the tops are just barely above ground. It is important to clear brush from the area that could potentially entangle the bobcat and accidentally cause it to suffocate and die in the live snare.

    Transporting a Captured Bobcat

    • Use extreme caution at all times if you choose to transport a bobcat to another location instead of killing it. You will need catch poles equipped with an adjustable steel noose, thick leather gloves and other protective clothing and sedatives to calm and immobilize the animal. At least two people should be there to use catch poles once the bobcat is released from the live snare; one should be positioned at the feet and the other at the head. Amateur trappers should never attempt to capture a live bobcat without the assistance of an experienced trapper.