Avoid a Sticky Situation
By Cheryl Conley, Lake Creek Preserve Board of Directors
Household pests are a way of life in our area. Treating your home for roaches and other insects is an expense you just accept if you want to live in the great state of Texas. Many people also have to deal with mice and rats. Everyone is at risk of a rodent infestation no matter how clean your home is.
There are a lot of options when it comes to ridding your home of rats and mice. The one that is the most inhumane is the glue trap and I encourage readers to find an alternative method.
Advertisers of glue traps sell their products by telling you they are clean, non-toxic and easy to use. What they don’t tell you is that the animal doesn’t die immediately. The animal suffers for days and eventually dies of starvation, dehydration, suffocation or mere exhaustion. Animals may rip off their own skin or fur trying to escape. They may fracture limbs or even chew them off in an attempt to get free. It’s days of suffering.
Another problem with glue traps is that often times unintended animals fall victim to them. If placed outside or in garages or warehouses, birds, snakes, opossums, raccoons, and squirrels can get stuck to them. If this happens, call a wildlife center or rehabilitator. Do NOT to try to free the animal yourself. This can cause more harm than good. You will need to take the animal with the glue trap attached to their location. The Houston area has three wildlife organizations that can assist you: the Wildlife Center of Texas, TWRC and Friends of Texas Wildlife. If a domestic animal should get stuck, follow these instructions:
- Get your supplies together. You’ll need a pair of gloves, baby oil or cooking oil, some tissues, and a damp cloth.
- Cover the animal’s head. This helps to keep them calm.
- With gloves on, massage a small amount of oil near where the animal is stuck. Continue to massage the area while gently working to free the animal. Use additional oil as needed.
- Once the animal is free, use the tissues to cover the glue so the animal doesn’t get stuck again.
- Use the damp cloth to remove any oil that is on the animal.
Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, two states and one territory in Australia, and four Indian states have banned the use of glue traps. Many companies like Target, CVS, Walgreens, and Dollar Tree have prohibited the sale of them.
Do your part to end the use of glue traps. If you see glue traps being used, contact those responsible and explain how inhumane they are. If you see them being sold in stores, help educate store management. Share this video from PETA with friends, family and on social media. https://youtu.be/PUSfxvbpHMs
Let’s put an end to the use of inhumane glue traps!
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Written by: Cheryl Conley
Cheryl currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Lake Creek Greenway Partnership. She is also currently working with a Montgomery County Commissioner on a new nature center/wildlife center. Previously, she was the president of TWRC Wildife Center and Vice President of Friends of Texas Wildlife. Cheryl is a State of Texas permitted wildlife rehabilitator.
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