This page describes the types of traps that may be used legally in New Mexico. They are:

Leg-Hold Traps
Snare Traps
Connibear Traps
Cage Traps

Long-spring leg-hold trap with hand for comparison.

The size above is commonly used for coyotes and bobcats. If a fox or raccoon, which is smaller, is captured by it, the damage can be severe. Leg-hold traps must be off-set to leave a gap of 3/16 inch when the jaws close. This is done by welding a piece of metal to the inside so it can’t close all the way or by removing some of the inside jaw so that when it closes, there is a space.

The trap can be padded. It can also be laminated which is when the jaw has metal welded to the top and/or bottom to make the surface that has contact with the animal’s leg wider. Neither padding nor lamination is required in NM though both can reduce, but not eliminate, injury. Most trappers do not own or use padded or laminated traps. Toothed traps are not allowed.

The coil-spring trap is another type of leg-hold
trap.

The leg-hold trap may also be set near water in such a way that the animal drowns. The leg-hold trap is the most common trap type used in NM. Leg-hold traps can be opened by depressing the side levers as shown by the arrows. You may have to stand on them to accomplish this. The springs are very tight because the trapper doesn’t want to lose his catch.

It’s called a “pull out” if the animal gets away. If the animal gets away by chewing off its foot, it’s called a “wring off”. If a dog is captured, it will be biting at the trap, at itself and you. Try to cover it with a jacket before attempting to open the trap. Don’t leave the dog because it will struggle and the injuries will be worse.

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This is a cable device that is designed to tighten with the animal’s struggle. It can be used to hold the foot, but is often set to go around the neck to strangle the animal to death. The death is generally prolonged and tortuous. Snares work more reliably in snow than leg-hold traps do. They are cheap to use and replace.

Neck snares are used most often for coyotes and foxes. If a companion dog is captured, try to immediately stop the struggle so the snare can’t tighten further and free the snare from its anchor. Then release the cable-tensioning device. If you hike where snaring is going on, it might be a good idea to carry a small pair of bolt cutters. (Of course, you have no way to know where snaring is going as no warnings are required.)

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Connibear trap.

This is also called a body-crushing trap. It is designed to close with such force that the neck of the animal is broken. But depending on the size of the animal and the size of the trap, it may close anywhere on the body from the face to the back. Bones are crushed and broken, the injuries are almost always fatal, but the death is prolonged.

These are often used for beavers, muskrats, raccoons, and badgers. Of course, if some other animal or bird is caught by this trap, it also will be killed. Trappers are not accountable, liable or held responsible for this by-catch in any way. Connibear traps are strong enough to break human bones and are very difficult to open even for trappers without a special tool. The springs on each side must be depressed to release the trap. (See arrows.)

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Cage trap.

Cage traps are much more humane and are often used for wildlife relocation and research. It is difficult to get a coyote to enter a cage trap, but all other species of furbearer will. Cage traps will cause injury if not checked properly. The animal may damage its teeth from chewing on the cage and it may die of dehydration and exposure if left too long.

But if the animal is a non-target or non-trappable species, it can easily be let go. And while it is restrained, the animal is protected from other predators by the cage.

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