Abstract: An animal snare includes a built-in force urging the snare loop toward a constricted, relatively small triggered position from a larger setting position. When the snare is released from the triggered position by an animal, the built-in force accelerates constriction of the loop, preventing animal escapes that might otherwise occur. The snare includes a flexible cable having opposed anchor and loop ends, with the loop end slidably engaged by a catch to an intermediate portion of the cable to form the constrictable ensnaring loop and for releasably, frictionally restraining the loop end relative to the intermediate portion when the snare is in its setting position. The built-in force is introduced during manufacture of the snare by giving a permanent set to the portion of the snare cable proximate its loop end.

Abstract: A relaxing snare for trapping animals comprising a noose having a constrictable loop for ensnaring an animal therein by tightening of the loop about the animals's neck upon the animal tugging thereagainst, and a lost motion locking slide device for relaxing the tightness of the constricting loop in the absence of such tugging by a preselected limited amount of tension which is great enough to prevent strangulation of the animal yet small enough to prevent escape of the animal by withdrawal of its head through the loop when relaxed. This controlling feature is directly opposed to the strangulation resulting from use of the standard locking type snare and allows the selection and releasing of non-target animals. Various forms of a lost motion locking slide device are disclosed.