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Using glue traps to catch rats and mice is banned in the UK thanks to the Private Members Bill which has received unanimous support today in the House of Commons.
Humane Society International/UK (HSI) – an animal rights charity that backs the anti-glue trap campaign, Unstuck – welcomed the news and named it a “major victory” for animals wildlife across the country.
What are glue traps, and are they ethical?
Glue traps are pieces of cardboard, plastic or fiberboard coated with a durable non-curing adhesive designed to immobilize animals that wander through them.
HSI looks at the traps “Inhuman” and “indisputable” because animals in captivity can break or dislocate bones, lacerate their skin, suffocate, lose sight, or if left too long they can become dehydrated or starve.
It is thought that some animals trapped in the glue trap chewed their own limbs in an attempt to free them.
And it’s not just mice and rats that fall victim to devices. According to HSI, protected and endangered species including hedgehogs, birds, bats and pet cats are also known to be susceptible to injury, many of which result in death.
Prohibit glue traps
Despite the animal welfare complications, glue traps are widely available in the UK, with many costing as little as 99p. And while the new legislation won’t ban their sale, it will be illegal for members of the public, including “pest control people”, to use them in the UK without a license. .
Violators of the new law face fines and/or up to 51 weeks in prison.
Furthermore, coming to a glue trap and not checking, without good reason, it disabled would also be an offence.
The law provides for a limited exemption, which would allow those working in “pest” management to apply for a glue trap license through the Secretary of State. This can only be done when “there is no other satisfactory solution” and when necessary for “the purpose of protecting public health or safety”.
HSI/UK chief executive Claire Bass – who labels glue traps as “rude devices that cause appalling suffering to millions of animals” – hopes the ban will spur changes in the industry .
“It is entirely right that their use in public places would be banned and we hope this will lead retailers to remove them from sale as it would be illegal for their customers to use them.” Bass said.
She added: “The ‘pest’ control industry’s glue trap licensing regime will need to be tightly regulated to ensure that these wicked products are no longer used haphazardly without being harmed. punishment.
A similar waiver was included in the 2015 glue trap ban in New Zealand, but permits continue to decline. In fact, there was no licensing approval in New Zealand last year.
Chris Packham on ‘compassionate’ wildlife management
Naturalist and vegetarian Chris Packham was delighted by the news. “When wild animals, like rats and mice, succeed in living alongside humans, we label them ‘pests’ or ‘predators’ and seem to think it’s a lamp. green to completely disregard their welfare,” he said in a statement.
“Glue traps are a prime example of this. That attitude has to change.”
The presenter added: “I am delighted that the cruel and unnecessary glue traps will now be taken out of public use, promoting a more compassionate and also more effective approach to dealing with unwanted wildlife.”
“This legislation is great news for rats and mice, but also for many unintended victims of glue, such as fragile birds, grass snakes, frogs and porcupines.”
