Glue traps, also known as glue boards, have long been a controversial method of controlling rodents and other household pests. These devices consist of trays or boards covered with a sticky adhesive designed to trap animals that cross over them. While glue traps may seem like an easy and inexpensive approach to pest control, their use raises complex ethical questions and debates around animal welfare.
What Are Glue Traps and How Do They Work?
Glue traps or boards are thin cardboard, plastic, or wood trays ranging in size from around 5 x 7 inches to 1 x 2 feet. One or both surfaces are coated with an extremely sticky glue. They are sold in many hardware stores, home improvement centers, and online retailers as an accessible tool to catch and kill mice, rats, cockroaches, and other small pests.
To use a glue trap, it is placed along the walls or in areas where target pests travel. The traps are sometimes enhanced with bait or pheromone attractants to lure the animals onto the adhesive surface. Rodents, insects, or other creatures that step onto the glue become stuck and unable to free themselves. Trapped animals likely die from exhaustion, dehydration, starvation, or suffocation while struggling in vain to escape.
The Controversy Around Glue Trap Use
While glue traps may seem like a convenient and inexpensive approach to controlling pests, they are considered highly controversial and inhumane by many animal advocacy groups, ethical pest control companies, veterinarians, and policymakers. The key concerns around glue trap use include:
Prolonged Suffering for Trapped Animals
Once stuck in a glue trap, rodents and other animals experience considerable distress and suffering as they struggle unsuccessfully to free themselves. This agonizing experience can last many hours or even days, as the animal slowly succumbs to exhaustion, starvation, or dehydration. The American Veterinary Medical Association, along with other organizations, argue this prolonged suffering prior to death is an inhumane method of pest control.
Indiscriminate Trapping of Non-Target Species
Glue traps often capture non-target animals, including birds, bats, snakes, lizards, and even kittens and puppies. Even protected species are sometimes victimized. This indiscriminate trapping and killing of unintended animals is another ethical concern around the use of glue boards.
Availability of More Humane Alternatives
Many experts argue there are safer, more humane options for controlling rodents and pests that do not involve the intense suffering caused by glue traps. Suggested alternatives include live cage traps, exclusion techniques to block access, and prevention methods. The availability of these methods makes the use of glue traps even more ethically questionable.
Efforts to Ban Glue Traps Over Animal Cruelty Concerns
Due to the animal welfare issues associated with glue traps, there have been increasing legislative and corporate efforts to prohibit their sale and use. However, total bans are still limited due to the traps’ effectiveness and accessibility.
Partial Bans and Restrictions
Certain regions and municipalities have imposed partial bans or restrictions on glue traps. For example, New York City prohibits the use of these devices by pest control companies contracted by the city government. The UK has banned glue traps for rodent control, although they are still permitted for insects. Retailers like Petsmart and Home Depot have voluntarily discontinued sales of glue traps due to public pressure.
Push for Total Nationwide Ban
More recently, animal rights groups have been pushing for a total federal ban on the manufacture, sale, and use of glue traps within the United States. In January 2023, federal legislation was proposed that would outlaw glue traps as inhumane devices that inflict unnecessary suffering. However, the ban faces an uphill battle given the traps’ continued legal use and accessibility nationwide.
The Ongoing Use of Glue Traps for Pest Control
Despite the controversy around their inhumane nature, glue traps remain commonly utilized to control rodents and insects in homes, businesses, and agricultural settings. This ongoing use can be attributed to several key factors:
Effectiveness for Certain Pests
When used properly and checked frequently, glue traps can be highly effective at capturing and killing certain pests, especially mice and cockroaches. Their low cost and simple utilization adds to their continued appeal as a pest control method.
Legal in Most Jurisdictions
While select areas have imposed restrictions, glue traps remain legal to purchase and use in most states and localities. Their widespread legality and availability from retailers continues to make them a go-to option for many consumers.
Lack of Awareness of Animal Welfare Issues
Some users are simply unaware of the significant animal cruelty concerns around glue traps. The traps’ marketing as a humane solution likely contributes to consumer misconceptions about their actual humaneness.
Using Glue Traps Ethically Based on Best Practices
If glue traps are to be used, experts emphasize following best practices to minimize animal suffering as much as realistically possible. Recommended ethical guidelines include:
- Checking traps very frequently, at least every 12 hours.
- Keeping trapped animals out of sight and reach of other pets.
- Using a quick humane method of euthanasia like cervical dislocation.
- Disposing of animal remains properly to avoid spread of disease.
- Avoiding use where pets, children or protected wildlife are present.
- Considering more humane alternatives whenever feasible.
While these measures mitigate some concerns, many argue the prolonged suffering inherent to these devices makes their ethical use doubtful altogether.
Exploring Alternative Pest Control Methods
Rather than use glue traps, experts recommend exploring other more humane options that are effective, legal, and avoid prolonged animal suffering. Some alternatives to consider include:
Live Cage Traps
These enclosed traps catch pests alive and unharmed, allowing for their release or humane euthanasia. Live traps avoid the intense distress of being stuck in glue.
Exclusion Techniques
Blocking pest access points to the home with seals, screens, and barriers so they cannot enter in the first place.
Sanitation and Prevention
Eliminating food sources, clutter, and conditions that attract pests. Maintaining cleanliness and food storage habits that deter pest activity.
Repellents and Deterrents
Using humane scents, sounds, and devices that drive away pests without killing them. Options include ultrasonic repellers.
Relocation
Capturing and releasing pests unharmed away from the property humanely. Most appropriate for certain outdoor species.
Ongoing Debate Around the Use of Glue Traps
The debate around whether glue traps should be allowed or banned is likely to continue as animal welfare groups push for prohibition while pest control companies, retailers, and users resist change. Compelling cases exist on both sides of this ethical issue. However, the trend appears to be moving gradually toward more regions and corporations discontinuing the sale and use of these controversial devices wherever viable alternatives exist.
In Summary
- Glue traps or boards utilize sticky adhesives to trap and kill rodents, insects, and other pests indiscriminately.
- Their use is highly controversial due to animal welfare concerns around intense prolonged suffering.
- Some areas have partial bans, but total nationwide prohibition faces resistance.
- Glue traps remain commonly used for their affordability and effectiveness on certain pests.
- Following best practices can slightly mitigate animal cruelty concerns if use is unavoidable.
- More humane alternatives like live traps, exclusion, and prevention are widely recommended instead.