On the third day of the Lunar New Year, while hiking on a jungle trail leading up to the main peak of Jiulong Mountain, we discovered a wire snare set by hunters.
Winter is hunting season. Although hunting is prohibited in the mountainous areas around Beijing, some local villagers still have the habit of setting traps for pheasants and rabbits in the winter. Hunters typically make a sliding noose from wire or thin iron wire and set it vertically on a trail, with one end fixed to a plant or secured with a wooden peg. When prey such as rabbits or pheasants pass by, their heads may accidentally enter the snare. The forward momentum causes the wire to tighten around their necks, making escape nearly impossible. It's a simple yet effective hunting method. The key is choosing the right location—trails through bushes or grass are commonly used by rabbits and similar animals, so these snares are often hidden there. While such snares pose no fatal danger to humans, being caught by one around the ankle during fast movement can lead to a fall at best, or injuries to skin and flesh at worst. Therefore, hikers and trekkers should stay vigilant.