Pest control

SPCA urges a ban on the sale of glue traps for pests

Sep 20, 2024 | 4:02 PM

PRINCE GEORGE—The BC SPCA is warning people about the dangers of glue mousetraps saying they are an inhumane way to kill rodents.

The problem is that glue traps are designed to catch rodents, not kill them,” says Sarah Herring, a government relations officer with the SPCA. “Most people leave them unmonitored for long periods of time. So, the animals that are trapped on them can suffer for hours, if not days, before eventually dying of exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, exposure or suffocation.”

Herring adds that glue traps are indiscriminate and will catch other animals like bugs, reptiles, or small pets. The BC SPCA is calling for a province-wide ban of the sale of glue traps.

“We’ve recently seen similar action, that actually came about partly through a UBCM resolution,” notes Herring. “And the province put in place a ban on second generation anticoagulant rodenticides.”

However, Mike Jaenicke owner of Interior Pest Control uses glue traps and says that rodents die much quicker than most would expect, adding that he puts them to box traps for that reason.

“The glue board helps to hasten on the death. Once they’re in here instead of letting them starve to death slowly, when they get stuck on the glue boards, they try and use their snout for leverage, and they’ll suffocate,” explains Jaenicke. “Or they’ll stress themselves to death because they can’t move.”

Jaenicke urges everyone to ensure they are mice free because one third of all structure fires are caused by rodents. In addition, mouse poop is harmful to peoples health.

The quickest way to kill a mouse are snap traps as the death can often be instant.

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Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com

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