Mech,
First, I can guarantee you, a decent trapper has a much better understanding of animals thanmost hunters.Getting within shooting distance of adeer iseasy compared to knowing just what tiny patch of earth a coyote or fox or minkis likely to set his foot.

Second, do you even know anything about traps? Do youknow thata muskrat in 110 conibear, a coon in a220,a beaver in 330 dies in seconds? Do you know that when they catch and collar wolves for research they use foot traps? Same goes for many other animals trapped and relocated. Do you know that animals caught in cable restraints (relaxing snares)can also be released unharmed if so desired? Locking snares can be used to kill the animal quickly if so desired.

Third, do you know that a study showed that 25% of the raccoon populationin an untrapped area of NE IL died from distemper each year? Have you ever seen an animal dying from distemper? It's a slow miserable death that can take weeks. Did you know that at least 75% of raccoons in IL are infected with raccoon roundworms, a worm that is not only transmittable to humans, but can and has killed people?When other animals (including people) get the worm, it eats away at their brains and eyes. Have you seen the coyotes and foxes dying of mange in your area? It's not pretty. How is letting them die naturally.... humane???

You really do sound like a PETA person.

As far as the snares in the orginal post, I'd report them to the CPO. Unattended/abandoned traps are a bad situation.