Glue traps, the ugly truth
The NSPCA is vehemently opposed to the use of glue or sticky traps.
Glue traps are squares of cardboard, wood or plastic coated in highly adhesive glue. These traps are placed where rodents walk or gather, and when the rodent walks over the glue, the animal gets stuck by its fur or feet.
Animals express pain and distress from being trapped. Rodents, in their attempts to escape, have been found to forcefully remove their fur, tear their skin and break their limbs.
Animals have also been found squealing and covered in their own faeces and urine. Glue traps have major welfare concerns with unnecessary prolonged distress and trauma.
Further to the cruelty of the animals getting stuck, major concerns are also raised with how animals die or are killed when caught in glue traps.
Some animals often suffer from suffocation by falling face down on the traps, while others are killed by being hit with a stick, drowned, incinerated or eventually die due to starvation, dehydration and exhaustion.
Glue traps are not species-specific, which results in other animals also getting caught. Cases have been reported where birds, reptiles and other small mammals, including pets, were found trapped in glue traps.
Here is how you can help:
Do not use glue traps to catch these sentient beings and do not support companies that use this method of control.
Should you know of any store where this cruel device is being sold, an email containing store details, address and a photograph, if possible, should be sent to specialprojects@nspca.co.za
Please visit the National Council of SPCAs for humane alternatives.
