“This law is great news for mice and rats, but also for the many unintended victims who get stuck in the glue, such as delicate birds, grass snakes, frogs and hedgehogs.”

Glue traps which are widely used to catch mice and rats will be banned across England after a government-backed Private Members Bill received unanimous support in the House of Lords.

The momentous victory comes after years of lobbying by animal charity Humane Society International/UK (HSI), which led the “Unstuck” campaign to end the public use of the “inhumane, indiscriminate and indefensible” glue boards.

According to the charity, the cruel glue traps immobilise the trapped animals in strong adhesive and the animals in their desperate efforts to escape suffer from torn skin, broken limbs, and suffocation. The poor animals if trapped long enough also suffer dehydration, starvation and even death.

While traps are usually set up for mice and rats, they also pose a serious risk to other species including protected and endangered species like hedgehogs, wild birds and bats, and even pet cats.

Despite their potential to cause prolonged and extreme animal suffering, glue traps are widely available in the UK, for as little as 99p.

The new ban

The Glue Traps Bill will become law after receiving the Royal Assent.

Once the ban comes into effect, it will be illegal for everyone, including “pest controllers,” to use one in England without a licence.

Those who violate the new law will be liable for a fine and/or up to 51 weeks in prison.

Moreover, discovering a glue trap and not making sure without reasonable excuse that it is disabled will also be an offence.

While England will follow in the footsteps of Scotland that banned glue traps earlier this year, itis important to note the ban is not applicable for the remaining countries in the UK.

Glue traps can ‘no longer [be] casually used with impunity’

Celebrating the milestone HSI/UK executive director Claire Bass said: “Glue traps are crude devices that cause horrific suffering to millions of animals.

“It is absolutely right that their public use will be banned, and we hope this will precipitate their removal from sale by retailers since it will be illegal for their customers to use them.

“It is immoral to subject small, sentient wildlife to being immobilised on these sticky boards, only to suffocate in the glue, die slowly of their injuries, or be ineptly killed by unprepared members of the public who resort to drowning or throwing them in the rubbish while still alive.

“The licensing regime for glue trap use by the ‘pest’ control industry will need to be strictly managed to ensure that these cruel products are no longer casually used with impunity.”

Call for a more compassionate wildlife management approach

Naturalist and campaigner Chris Packham, who supported HSI/UK’s Unstuck campaign, added: “When wildlife, like mice and rats, are successful at living alongside humans, we label them ‘pests’ or ‘vermin’ and seem to think that’s a green light to completely disregard their welfare. Glue traps are a prime example of this. That attitude has to change.

“I commend HSI/UK on their Unstuck campaign victory and I’m delighted that cruel and unnecessary glue traps will now be taken out of public use, prompting a more compassionate and also effective approach to dealing with unwanted wildlife.

“This law is great news for mice and rats, but also for the many unintended victims who get stuck in the glue, such as delicate birds, grass snakes, frogs and hedgehogs.”

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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