Live-capture trapping devices are sometimes used by licensed trappers and farmers as an alternative to kill traps in areas where there are risks of capturing non-target animals (e.g. domestic dogs, livestock). To be effective and efficient, these live-capture trapping devices should be selective to the target species, have high capture rates for that species, and minimize injury to both target and non-target species. Research on this subject has continued to evolve as improvements are made to live-capture trapping devices.
A relaxing cable restraint (RCR) is a live-capture cable device that is designed to hold an animal in place without causing death. Relaxing cable restraints are used in several areas of North America to capture problem wildlife in multi-use areas where there is a risk of incidental capture of non-target animals. Properly set RCRs allow for the release of non-target animals unharmed, while target animals may be humanely dispatched by a licensed trapper or farmer.